Powers and duties of town justices; requirements; restriction

§ 31. Powers and duties of town justices; requirements; restriction. 1. The town justice shall have such jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters and in special proceedings, as is now or may hereafter be conferred by law. Each such justice shall:

(a) Keep or cause to be kept the records and dockets required by the uniform justice court act. No town justice shall receive or disburse any moneys unless he shall furnish or receive a proper receipt therefor, or make a memorandum or record of such transaction, in such form and detail as the state comptroller shall prescribe.

(b) At least annually and as often as may be required, submit his dockets to the members of the town board for examination and audit.

2. No town justice selected for a term of office commencing on or after September first, nineteen hundred sixty-seven, except one who has been admitted to practice law in this state, shall assume the functions of his office unless he has filed in the office of the town clerk a certificate of completion of a course of training prescribed by the administrative board of the judicial conference. The administrative board may issue a temporary certificate enabling a justice to assume the functions of his office pending completion of the earliest such course available thereafter. Such certificates shall be in a form, and subject to terms and conditions, prescribed by the administrative board.

3. Notwithstanding any other law, actual and necessary expenses incurred by a justice or justice elect in attending a course of training required of him before he can assume the functions of his office shall be a charge against the town.

4. No town justice selected for a term of office commencing on or after July first, nineteen hundred seventy-five, shall engage in or accept any employment as a "police officer" or a "peace officer" as those terms are defined in the criminal procedure law.

5. A person who has been convicted of a felony pursuant to the laws of this state or who has been convicted in federal court or in another state for a crime or offense that would constitute a felony under the laws of this state shall be permanently ineligible to be a candidate for town justice or to be appointed or continue to hold such office.