Forms of Address in The United Kingdom - Judiciary

Judiciary

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address In court
Male Justice of the Supreme Court The Lord Smith, PC Lord Smith Lord Smith My Lord
Female Justice of the Supreme Court The Lady Smith, PC Lady Smith Lady Smith My Lady
Lord Chief Justice The Rt Hon. the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Chief Justice Lord Chief Justice My Lord
Male Lord Justice of Appeal The Rt Hon. Lord Justice (John) Smith Lord Justice Lord Justice My Lord
Retired male Lord Justice of Appeal The Rt Hon. Sir John Smith Judge or Sir John Sir John My Lord
Female Lord Justice of Appeal The Rt Hon. Lady Justice (Mary) Smith, DBE Lady Justice Lady Justice My Lady
Retired female Lord Justice of Appeal The Rt Hon. Dame Mary Smith, DBE Judge or Dame Mary Dame Mary My Lady
Male High Court Judge The Hon. Mr Justice (John) Smith Judge Judge My Lord
Retired male High Court Judge Sir John Smith Judge or Sir John Sir John My Lord
Female High Court Judge The Hon. Mrs Justice (Mary) Smith, DBE Judge Judge My Lady
Retired female High Court Judge Dame Mary Smith, DBE Judge or Dame Mary Dame Mary My Lady
Circuit Judge who was Queen's Counsel** His Honour Judge (John) Smith, QC Judge Judge Your Honour
Circuit Judge** His Honour Judge (John) Smith Judge Judge Your Honour
District Judge District Judge (John) Smith Judge Sir or Madam Sir or Madam
High Court Master Master(John) Smith Master Master* Master*
High Court Registrar Mr (or Mrs) Registrar Smith Registrar Sir or Madam Sir or Madam
Justice of the Peace Mr John Smith, JP Mr Smith Mr Smith Your Worship

A judge's first name only forms part of their judicial style if, at the time of their appointment, there is a senior judge with the same or a similar surname. Thus, if there is a "Mr Justice Smith", subsequent judges will be "Mr Justice John Smith", "Mrs Justice Mary Smith", etc.

  • *whether the High Court Master is male or female
  • **Some Circuit Judges – for example, The Recorder of Liverpool or Central Criminal Court judges – are referred to as "My Lord" or "My Lady

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Famous quotes containing the word judiciary:

    “The judiciary has fallen to a very low state in this country. I think your part of the country has suffered especially. The federal judges of the South are a disgrace to any country, and I’ll be damned if I put any man on the bench of whose character and ability there is the least doubt.”
    —William Howard Taft (1857–1930)