Judicial titles in England and Wales

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The Judiciary of England and Wales contains many levels, based on the court in which the judge sits. Titles are given to judges relating to their position and, in the case of knighthoods and peerages, this includes the positions they had previously held. Retired judges that sit in any court use their full name with their titles added (such as Sir or Dame, or post-nominal KC). Members or former members of the higher judiciary who are King's Counsel do not use the post-nominal letters KC.

Contents

Due to the various honours bestowed on members of the judiciary and traditions associated with the varying levels, their personal titles and forms of address often change as they progress in a judicial career.

Extant titles

Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

OfficeJudicial titleAbbreviated title
(in law reports, etc.)
Form of addressPrivate titlePrivate form of address
In courtOut of court
President of the Supreme Court [1] The Right Hon. the President of the Supreme CourtLord/Lady Jones P [2] My Lord/LadyLord/Lady JonesLord/Lady JonesLord/Lady Jones
Deputy President of the Supreme Court [1] The Right Hon. the Deputy President of the Supreme CourtLord/Lady Jones DP [2] My Lord/LadyLord/Lady JonesLord/Lady JonesLord/Lady Jones
Justice of the Supreme Court [1] MaleThe Right Hon. Lord JonesLord Jones SCJ [2] My LordLord JonesLord JonesLord Jones
FemaleThe Right Hon. Lady SmithLady Smith SCJ [2] My LadyLady SmithLady SmithLady Smith

If there are two Justices of the Supreme Court with the same surname, then the junior Justice will take a territorial designation (i.e. "of [place]") in their title. When two or more Justices are referred at the same time in a law report, their post-nominal letters become SCJJ. [3]

Court of Appeal

OfficeJudicial titleAbbreviated title (in law reports, etc.)Form of addressPrivate titlePrivate form of address
In courtOut of court
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (if a peer)The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Justice of England and WalesJones LCJMy LordLord Chief JusticeLord Jones (when title does not include a territorial designation)/The Lord Jones of Luton (when title includes a territorial designation)Lord Jones
Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England (Master of the Rolls) (if a peer)The Right Hon. the Master of the RollsLord Jones MR [3] My LordMaster of the RollsLord Jones (when title does not include a territorial designation)/The Lord Jones of Luton (when title includes a territorial designation)Lord Jones
Master of the Rolls The Right Hon. the Master of the RollsSir John Smith MR [3] My LordMaster of the RollsSir John SmithSir John
Lord Justice of Appeal MaleThe Right Hon. Lord Justice SmithSmith LJ [2] My LordJudgeSir John SmithSir John
FemaleThe Right Hon. Lady Justice SmithSmith LJ [2] My LadyJudge Dame Jane SmithDame Jane

If there are two Lord Justices of the Appeal with the same surname, then the junior Lord Justice will take their first name as part of their judicial title. [2] When two or more Lord Justices are referred at the same time in a law report, their post-nominal letters become LJJ. [3]

High Court

OfficeJudicial titleAbbreviated title (in
law reports, etc.)
Form of addressPrivate titlePrivate form of address
In courtOut of court
President of the King's Bench Division MaleThe Right Hon. the President of the King's Bench DivisionSir John Smith P [3] My LordPresidentSir John SmithSir John
FemaleThe Right Hon. the President of the King's Bench DivisionDame Jane Smith P [3] My LadyPresidentDame Jane SmithDame Jane
President of the Family Division MaleThe Right Hon. the President of the Family DivisionSir John Smith P [3] My LordPresidentSir John SmithSir John
FemaleThe Right Hon. the President of the Family DivisionDame Jane Smith P [3] My LadyPresidentDame Jane SmithDame Jane
Chancellor of the High Court MaleThe Right Hon. the Chancellor of the High CourtSir John Smith C [3] My LordChancellorSir John SmithSir John
FemaleThe Right Hon. the Chancellor of the High CourtDame Jane Smith C [3] My LadyChancellorDame Jane SmithDame Jane
Justice of His Majesty's High Court of Justice (High Court judge)MaleThe Hon. Mr Justice SmithSmith J [2] My LordJudgeSir John SmithSir John
FemaleThe Hon. Mrs Justice SmithSmith J [2] My LadyJudgeDame Jane SmithDame Jane
Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Insolvency and Companies Court Judge SmithICC Judge SmithJudge (unless sitting as a deputy High Court Judge, in which case My Lord or My Lady as appropriate)Judge
Senior Master of the King's Bench DivisionMaster SmithMaster SmithJudgeMaster
Chief Master of the Chancery DivisionChief Master SmithMaster SmithJudgeMaster
MasterMaster SmithMaster SmithJudgeMaster [4]
RegistrarRegistrar SmithRegistrar SmithRegistrarRegistrar
Circuit Judge sitting as a High Court judge His (Her) Honour Judge Smith (KC)HHJ Smith (KC)My Lord (Lady)JudgeJudge SmithJudge
Barrister or solicitor sitting as a deputy High Court judgeJohn Smith (KC)John Smith (KC) [2] My Lord (Lady)
Barrister or solicitor sitting as a Deputy Master of the High CourtDeputy Master Smith (KC)Deputy Master Smith (KC)JudgeMaster

If there are two Justices of the High Court with the same surname, then the junior Justice will take their first name as part of their judicial title. [2] When two or more Justices are referred at the same time in a law report, their post-nominal letters become JJ. [3]

Junior courts

OfficeJudicial titleAbbreviated title (in law reports, etc.)Form of addressPrivate titlePrivate form of address
In courtOut of court
Circuit Judge sitting at the Central Criminal Court His (Her) Honour Judge Smith (KC)HHJ Smith (KC)My Lord (Lady)JudgeJudge SmithJudge
Honorary Recorder His (Her) Honour Judge Smith (KC)HHJ Smith (KC)My Lord (Lady)JudgeJudge SmithJudge
Circuit Judge His (Her) Honour Judge Smith (KC)HHJ Smith (KC)Your HonourJudgeJudge SmithJudge
Deputy Circuit Judge His Honour John Smith (KC)HH John Smith (KC)Your Honour
Recorder sitting at the Central Criminal Court Mr (Mrs) Recorder Smith (KC)Mr (Mrs) Recorder Smith (KC)My Lord (Lady)
Recorder Mr (Mrs) Recorder Smith (KC)Mr (Mrs) Recorder Smith (KC)Your Honour
Adjudicator (Tribunal Judge)Mr (Mrs) Adjudicator Smith (KC)Mr (Mrs) Adjudicator Smith (KC)Sir/Madam
District Judge District Judge Smith (KC)DJ Smith (KC)JudgeJudge
District Judge (magistrates' courts)District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) SmithDJ(MC) SmithJudge [5]
Deputy District JudgeDeputy District Judge SmithDDJ Smith
Magistrate John Smith JPJohn Smith JPYour Worships; Sir/Madam (if addressed individually)

Extinct titles

OfficeJudicial titleAbbreviated title (in law reports, etc.)Form of addressPrivate titlePrivate form of address
In courtOut of court
Lord Chancellor The Right Hon. the Lord High Chancellor of Great BritainLord Jones LC [2] My LordLord ChancellorLord Smith (when title does not include a territorial designation)/The Lord Jones of Luton (when title includes a territorial designation)Lord Jones
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary MaleThe Right Hon. Lord Smith/The Lord Jones of LutonLord Smith/Jones [2] My LordLord Smith/JonesLord Smith (when title does not include a territorial designation)/The Lord Jones of Luton (when title includes a territorial designation)Lord Smith/Jones
FemaleThe Right Hon. Baroness Williams/The Baroness Hale of RichmondLady Hale [2] My Lady Baroness/Lady Williams/HaleBaroness/Lady Williams (when title does not include a territorial designation)

The Baroness/Lady Hale of Richmond (when title includes a territorial designation)

Baroness/Lady Williams/Hale
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas The Right Hon. the Chief Justice of the Common PleasSir John Smith CJMy LordChief JusticeSir John SmithSir John
Chief Baron of the Exchequer The Right Hon. the Lord Chief BaronSir John Smith LCBMy LordLord Chief Baron SmithSir John SmithSir John
Vice-Chancellor of the High Court The Right Hon. the Vice-ChancellorSir John Smith V-C [3] My LordVice-ChancellorSir John SmithSir John
Baron of the Exchequer The Hon. Mr Baron SmithSmith BMy LordSir John SmithSir John

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Biographies of the Justices" . Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities (PDF) (4th ed.). Oxon: OUP. 2012. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities (PDF) (4th ed.). Oxon: OUP. 2012. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  4. Smith, Chris (1 December 2022). "Message from the Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals – Modes of address in courts and tribunals". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  5. Smith, Chris (1 December 2022). "Message from the Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals – Modes of address in courts and tribunals". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 7 December 2022.