How to address a Judge

Address (in Correspondence)	Dear…	In court
The Right Honourable The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales	Lord Chief Justice/Chief Justice	My Lord/My Lady
The Right Honourable The Master of the Rolls	Master of the Rolls
The Right Honourable The President of the Queen’s Bench Division	President
The Right Honourable The President of the Family Division	President
The Right Honourable The Chancellor of the High Court	Chancellor
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 Wells	Lord Justice	My Lord
The Right Honourable Lady Justice Wells 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 Wicksteed	Judge	My Lord
High Court judge	The Honourable Mrs/Ms Justice Wicksteed (whether married or single)	Judge	My Lady

High Court Masters & Registrars

Office/Position	Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
Master	Master Holman (whether male or female)	Master	Master
Registrar	Mr (or Mrs) Registrar Holman	Registrar	Registrar
Insolvency and Companies Court Judge	Judge Holman (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 Williams (QC if appropriate)	Judge	Your Honour
Her Honour Judge Williams (QC if appropriate)	Judge	Your Honour

District Judges

Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
District Judge Pennington	Judge	Sir or Madam

District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts)

Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) Stewart	Judge	Sir or Madam

Magistrates

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

Tribunal Judges

Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
First-tier Tribunal Judge/Upper Tribunal Judge (depending on position) Curry	Judge	Sir or Madam

Employment Judges

Address (in correspondence)	Dear…	In court
Employment Judge Collins	Judge	Sir or Madam

---

Crown Copyright