Local notary becomes justice of the peace
By Lori Berkey Contributing Writer

Clad in his officiating robe, Justice of the Peace Michael Backer contemplates an upcoming wedding. PHOTO/LORI BERKEY

Southborough - When Michael Backer's son was married 10 years ago by a justice of the peace, the Southborough father was impressed by the warmth of the ceremony. A notary public for many years, Backer was used to being an official witness. As he watched the rite unfold, it gave him the idea that it would be fun to marry people.

After the wedding, Backer went to the town clerk's office to inquire about becoming a justice of the peace. With only one justice per 5,000 people sanctioned to serve in each community, there were no openings for him.

Backer didn't give up. Each time he went to renew his notary license, he asked about vacancies. Finally, in September 2004, he became authorized to wed.

Since then, Backer has presided over 25 marriages.

"It's been a lot a fun," he said.

The first wedding Backer officiated was a surprise. All of the guests thought they were going to a surprise birthday party, only to find out that the surprise was on them.

Backer's " birthday gift" contained the robe he wears for ceremonies. The couple introduced him as a friend of the family. When they announced they were getting married and it wasn't really a birthday party, Backer pretended to be mad and said he was going to take his gift and leave. Instead, he took his gift and stomped off to change into his robe.

"I can still hear her [the bride's] grown daughter's shriek," he said. "Everyone was so happy. It was pulled off in such a humorous as well as humanistic way."

Backer typically does prewedding planning that includes wishes of the parents with final approval from the couple. He works to tailor the ceremony to the bride and groom's desires.

Backer has performed ceremonies for strangers and for those he thought were strangers but who turned out to be related to friends. He's presided over his accountant's wedding and is looking forward to officiating a cousin's marriage next year.

Because training was not required to become a justice of the peace, Backer needed to learn the ropes himself. Shortly after he was granted his license, Backer attended a meeting of the Massachusetts Justice of the Peace Association (MJPA), a nonprofit organization. He found the information and networking opportunities helpful. Backer soon took on the role of board secretary. He later became board president, an office he currently holds.

The MJPA works to educate justices and foster professionalism and integrity in their practice. The group off ers pro bono ceremonies to military personnel who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq. Backer has presided over one such ceremony. The association also off ers an updated listing of justices of the peace that can be searched by town.

As president, Backer said, he is working to off er more training and add more structure to the organization's scholarship program. He would like justices of the peace and the general community to know about the organization's existence as a resource.

Backer, who works as a human resources consultant, enjoys his second job presiding over weddings.

"You're seeing people at their happiest, most joyous time of their life," he said. "It's been a privilege to officiate and serve."

For more information about MJPA, visit www.mjpa.org or call 800-663-8867.