How do you address to: a). a county court judge; b). a magistrate; c). a high court judge?

Answer 1

Assuming you are asking how they are addressed in a court, the answer is;

a. A County Court Circuit Judge is 'your honour', whilst a District Judge is 'sir' or 'madam' respectively.

b. A magistrate is also referred to as 'Sir' or 'Madam'. "Your worships" is only used by police officers, but otherwise went out of common usage at least 15 years ago.

c. A High Court Judge (including in the Court of appeal and House of Lords) is referred to as My Lord, or My Lady or your Lordship/Ladyship (the latter phrases are not very common).

A High Court Master (like a District Judge) is referred to as 'Master'. There are no female masters so what one calls them is yet to be determined.

The rule of thumb is that you will get away with calling a Magistrate 'Your Honour' or a CC Judge 'My Lord'. Don't go the other way.

To round off the answer, chairmen (including women, who are also chairmen) of tribunals and the like are always 'sir' or 'madam'. This includes Judges who are sitting in a Tribunal capacity - eg the Employment Appeal Tribunal

It's all a bit odd, isn't it?

Answer 2

In England and Wales, it is "Dear Judge Smith" for the County Court. However, are you sure this is the County Court? More likely to be the Magistrates Court or the Crown Court. I'd ring the office of the Court in question, tell them what you want to do and they'll point you in the right direction.

Answer 3

Technically you address a magistrate as "Your Worship" and a High Court Judge as "My Lord" (except when he's in chambers, when he's called "Judge") - or "My Lady" of course. A District Court Judge is called "Your Honour"

However, all of them accept being called "Sir" or "Ma'am", especially by civilians, so to speak. A judge would, nevertheless, expect a barrister to know the correct form and would make the point firmly!

Answer 4

How To Address A Judge

Answer 5

One respectfully questions one's usage of the word respectively, as there is no list that it does or even can refer back to to receive its availing ordination.

En serieux, syntactical faux pas aside, how would one expect a magistrate (justice of the peace) in the colonies to have been styled? Would it have been his worship? Or perhaps something else? And, was it actually? Meaning, did people typically style individual members of the sitting magistrature as such in day-to-day conversation? Also, as some magistrates acting as justices of the peace in the colonies were lay persons whilst others, and as time went on it was more likely the case, were proper barristers who were both graduated from university and "called" by the crown, did this difference make a difference in how they were customarily addressed, both bewigged and sans perruque?

Even still, in American courts, the judge is referred to as the honorable judge thus and such, his or her honor, and sir or ma'am/madame; but not so extra curia. When did General American depart from King's English, which only 20 or so years ago stopped customarily referring to judges as his or her worship outside court as well, in this regard?

And yes, I'm writing a book. Well, a short story. It's based on a late-18th century English barrister who emigrated to America to escape a rather robust family tradition in the law that had him pigeonholed after a terrible disillusionment developed in him such a strong disliking for the practise of law so as to quit it. Only, word of his prior profession caught him up at the coinciding breath of a serial murder accusation which needed to be heard forthwith for a town ever devolving in its thrall. Thusly, he is ultimately imposed upon by everyone, including himself and quite unwillingly, to serve as judge. At any rate, how he's styled is a key element of the plot, making historic and linguistic accuracy especially incumbent.

Any assistance anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 6

Hi Annie,

A county court judge is usually Your Honour.

Magistrates are Your Worships

High court judges are usually Your Lordship or Your Ladyship if it is a woman.

This is the general rule of thumb.

Hope this helps

Answer 7

your honour for county courts and magistrates not sure for high courts though

Answer 8

Your Honor

Answer 9

County court judge - HIS HONOUR JUDGE (SURNAME) ending in I HAVE THE HONOUR TO BE, SIR, YOUR OBEDIENT SERVANT.

High Court Judge - THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE (SURNAME) ending in I HAVE THE HONOUR TO BE, SIR, YOUR OBEDIENT SERVANT

Answer 10

Address them as "Oi Monkey nutz!" Then your next line would be: "Now I have your attention your honour......"

Go on, take a risk!