What do I call the judge?
What you call a judge depends on how senior they are. The following is a rough guide.
Magistrates
Call them ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’ in court, or ‘Your Worship’
Address them in correspondence as ‘Mr/Mrs <Full Name> JP’ and begin the letter ‘Dear <Full Name> JP’
District judges
Call them ‘Judge’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘District Judge <Surname>’ and begin the letter ‘Dear Judge’
Employment judges
Call them ‘Judge’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘Employment Judge <Surname>’ and begin the letter ‘Dear Judge’
Tribunal judges
Call them ‘Judge’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘First-tier Tribunal Judge/Upper Tribunal Judge <Surname>’ and begin the letter ‘Dear Judge’
Circuit judges
Call them ‘Your Honour’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘His/Her Honour Judge <Surname>’ (adding KC if appropriate) and begin the letter ‘Dear Judge’
High Court masters / registrars
Call them ‘Judge’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘Master’ / Mr/Ms/Mrs Registrar<Surname>’ and begin the letter ‘Dear Master/Registrar’
Insolvency and Companies Court judges
Call them ‘Judge’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘Judge<Surname>’ and begin the letter ‘Dear Judge’
High Court judges
Call them ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘The Honourable Mr/Ms/Mrs Justice <Surname>’ and begin the letter ‘Dear Judge’
Court of Appeal judges (if Lord / Lady Justice of Appeal)
Call them ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘The Right Honourable Lord/Lady Justice <Surname>’ and begin the letter ‘Dear Lord/Lady Justice’ or ‘Dear Judge’
Heads of Divisions etc
Call them ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’ in court
Address them in correspondence according to their full title, as listed below, and begin the letter ‘Dear ___’ using the words in bold.
- The Right Honourable The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
- The Right Honourable The Master of the Rolls
- The Right Honourable The President of the Queen’s Bench Division
- The Right Honourable The President of the Family Division / Court of Protection
- The Right Honourable The Chancellor of the High Court
Lord / Lady of Appeal in Ordinary
Call them ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘Lord / Lady <Name (of Place) >’ and begin the letter ‘Dear Lord / Lady <Name>’
Justice of the Supreme Court
Call them ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’ in court
Address them in correspondence as ‘Justice of the Supreme Court <Full name>’ or ‘<Full name> JSC’ and begin the letter ‘Dear Lord / Lady <Name>’ or ‘Dear Justice <Name>’
In the case of the President of the Supreme Court (PSC) or Deputy President of the Supreme Court (DPSC) simply substitute those titles for Justice of the Supreme Court in addressing them in correspondence, and begin the letter ‘Dear President’ or ‘Dear Deputy President’.
For official guidance, the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website has a table entitled What do I call a judge?
See also: Debrett’s Forms of Address: Law.
Retired judges
A retired circuit judge may be addressed in correspondence as His / Her Honour <Full Name>’ (adding KC if appropriate) and begin the letter ‘Dear Judge’.
A retired High Court judge may be addressed in correspondence as The Honourable Sir / Dame <Full Name> and begin the letter ‘Dear Sir / Dame <First name>’
A retired Lord or Lady Justice of Appeal may be addressed in correspondence as ‘The Right Honorable Sir / Dame <Full Name> and begin the letter ‘Dear Sir / Dame <First name>’
A retired Lord / Lady of Appeal in Ordinary or Supreme Court Justice continues to be addressed as Lord / Lady after retirement.
Scotland
For guidance on what to call judges in Scotland, the Judiciary of Scotland website has a page entitled Addressing a Judge.
