WHAT DO YOU CALL A JUDGE IN COURT? MESSAGE FROM THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE AND SENIOR PRESIDENT OF TRIBUNALS
In a message yesterday the Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals announced changes in the way that certain judges are addressed in court.
THE MESSAGE
“We are today announcing a change in the practice of how certain Judges are addressed in court. From now on, the Judges listed below should be addressed in court or tribunal hearings as ‘Judge’:
- Masters
- Upper Tribunal Judges
- Judges of the Employment Appeal Tribunal
- District Judges
- District Judges (Magistrates Courts)
- First-Tier Tribunal Judges
- Employment Judges
The current practice is to address them as ‘Sir/Madam’ or ‘Judge’. The move away from ‘Sir or Madam’ involves modern and simple terminology, reflecting the important judicial role whilst maintaining the necessary degree of respect. We also hope this change in language will assist litigants in person involved in court and tribunal proceedings. Up to date guidance on what to call a Judge can be found on the What do I call a Judge? webpage. Any other relevant guidance will be changed as appropriate in due course.
This change only involves the way in which Judges are addressed in court or tribunals. It does not affect judicial titles, which have a basis in statute, or the way in which Judges record their decisions.
In the tribunals non-legal members should continue to be addressed as ‘Sir or Madam’.”
THE GUIDANCE ON “WHAT DO I CALL A JUDGE?” WEBPAGE
The different ways to address members of the judiciary
Senior Judges
| Address (in Correspondence) | Dear… | In court |
| The Right Honourable The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales |
Lord 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 | Master Rahman (whether male or female) | Master | 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 |