February 19, 2010

What do I call a judge?

The different ways to address members of the judiciary

Senior Judges

Address (in Correspondence)	Dear…	In court
The Right Honourable The Lord/Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales	Lord/Lady Chief Justice/Chief Justice	My Lord or My Lady
The Right Honourable The Master of the Rolls	Master of the Rolls	My Lord or My Lady
The Right Honourable The President of the King’s Bench Division	President	My Lord or My Lady
The Right Honourable The President of the Family Division	President	My Lord or My Lady
The Right Honourable The Chancellor of the High Court	Chancellor	My Lord or My Lady
Retired Head of Division	Title in Private Capacity	N/A

Court of Appeal Judge

Judges who sit in the Court of Appeal (Lords Justices of Appeal) are Privy Councillors. They are known officially as Lord Justices. They should be addressed as follows:

Address (in Correspondence)	Dear…	In court
The Right Honourable Lord Justice Shaw	Lord Justice	My Lord
The Right Honourable Lady Justice Shaw DBE	Lady Justice	My Lady

High Court Judges

Members of the High Court are not usually Privy Councillors. Their official designation is as follows:

Office/Position	Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
High Court judge	The Honourable Mr Justice Evans	Judge	My Lord
High Court judge	The Honourable Mrs/Ms Justice Evans (whether married or single)	Judge	My Lady

High Court Masters & Registrars

Office/Position	Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
Master	Judge Rahman (whether male or female)	Judge	Judge
Registrar	Mr (or Mrs) Registrar Rahman	Registrar	Registrar
Insolvency and Companies Court Judge	Judge Shannon (whether male or female)	Judge	Judge

Circuit Judges

Some Circuit Judges – for example, The Recorder of Liverpool or Central Criminal Court judges – are referred to as “My Lord” or “My Lady”.

Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
His Honour Judge Smith (KC if appropriate)	Judge	Your Honour
Her Honour Judge Smith (KC if appropriate)	Judge	Your Honour

District Judges

Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
District Judge Kherallah	Judge	Judge

District Judges (Magistrates’ Courts)

Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) Ward	Judge	Judge

Tribunal Judges

Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
First-tier Tribunal Judge Curry	Judge	Judge
Upper Tribunal Judge Curry	Judge	Judge

Employment Judges

Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
Employment Judge Johnson	Judge	Judge

Magistrates

Dear…	In court
John Siddiquee, Esq JP	Your Worship, or Sir or Madam