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.
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
Office Judicial title Abbreviated title (in law reports, etc.) Form of address Private title Private form of address In court Out of court President of the Supreme Court The Right Hon. the President of the Supreme Court Lord/Lady Jones P My Lord/Lady Lord/Lady Jones Lord/Lady Jones Lord/Lady Jones Deputy President of the Supreme Court The Right Hon. the Deputy President of the Supreme Court Lord/Lady Jones DP My Lord/Lady Lord/Lady Jones Lord/Lady Jones Lord/Lady Jones Justice of the Supreme Court Male The Right Hon. Lord Jones Lord Jones SCJ My Lord Lord Jones Lord Jones Lord Jones Female The Right Hon. Lady Smith Lady Smith SCJ My Lady Lady Smith Lady Smith Lady 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.
Court of Appeal
Office Judicial title Abbreviated title (in law reports, etc.) Form of address Private title Private form of address In court Out of court Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (if a peer) The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Jones LCJ My Lord Lord Chief Justice Lord 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 Rolls Lord Jones MR My Lord Master of the Rolls Lord 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 Rolls Sir John Smith MR My Lord Master of the Rolls Sir John Smith Sir John Lord Justice of Appeal Male The Right Hon. Lord Justice Smith Smith LJ My Lord Judge Sir John Smith Sir John Female The Right Hon. Lady Justice Smith Smith LJ My Lady Judge Dame Jane Smith Dame 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. When two or more Lord Justices are referred at the same time in a law report, their post-nominal letters become LJJ.
High Court
Office Judicial title Abbreviated title (in law reports, etc.) Form of address Private title Private form of address In court Out of court President of the King's Bench Division Male The Right Hon. the President of the King's Bench Division Sir John Smith P My Lord President Sir John Smith Sir John Female The Right Hon. the President of the King's Bench Division Dame Jane Smith P My Lady President Dame Jane Smith Dame Jane President of the Family Division Male The Right Hon. the President of the Family Division Sir John Smith P My Lord President Sir John Smith Sir John Female The Right Hon. the President of the Family Division Dame Jane Smith P My Lady President Dame Jane Smith Dame Jane Chancellor of the High Court Male The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the High Court Sir John Smith C My Lord Chancellor Sir John Smith Sir John Female The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the High Court Dame Jane Smith C My Lady Chancellor Dame Jane Smith Dame Jane Justice of His Majesty's High Court of Justice (High Court judge) Male The Hon. Mr Justice Smith Smith J My Lord Judge Sir John Smith Sir John Female The Hon. Mrs Justice Smith Smith J My Lady Judge Dame Jane Smith Dame Jane Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Smith ICC Judge Smith Judge (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 SmithJudgeMasterChief Master of the Chancery DivisionChief Master SmithMaster SmithJudgeMaster Master Master Smith Master Smith Judge Master RegistrarRegistrar SmithRegistrar SmithRegistrarRegistrar Circuit Judge sitting as a High Court judge His (Her) Honour Judge Smith (KC) HHJ Smith (KC) My Lord (Lady) Judge Judge Smith Judge Barrister or solicitor sitting as a deputy High Court judge John Smith (KC) John Smith (KC) 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. When two or more Justices are referred at the same time in a law report, their post-nominal letters become JJ.
Junior courts
Office Judicial title Abbreviated title (in law reports, etc.) Form of address Private title Private form of address In court Out of court Circuit Judge sitting at the Central Criminal Court His (Her) Honour Judge Smith (KC) HHJ Smith (KC) My Lord (Lady) Judge Judge Smith Judge Honorary Recorder His (Her) Honour Judge Smith (KC) HHJ Smith (KC) My Lord (Lady) Judge Judge Smith Judge Circuit Judge His (Her) Honour Judge Smith (KC) HHJ Smith (KC) Your Honour Judge Judge Smith Judge 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) Judge Judge District Judge (magistrates' courts) District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) Smith DJ(MC) Smith Judge Deputy District Judge Deputy District Judge Smith DDJ Smith Magistrate John Smith JP John Smith JP Your Worships; Sir/Madam (if addressed individually)
Extinct titles
Office Judicial title Abbreviated title (in law reports, etc.) Form of address Private title Private form of address In court Out of court Lord Chancellor The Right Hon. the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain Lord Jones LC My Lord Lord Chancellor Lord 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 Male The Right Hon. Lord Smith/The Lord Jones of Luton Lord Smith/Jones My Lord Lord Smith/Jones Lord Smith (when title does not include a territorial designation)/The Lord Jones of Luton (when title includes a territorial designation) Lord Smith/Jones Female The Right Hon. Baroness Williams/The Baroness Hale of Richmond Lady Hale My Lady Baroness/Lady Williams/Hale Baroness/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 Pleas Sir John Smith CJ My Lord Chief Justice Sir John Smith Sir John Chief Baron of the Exchequer The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Baron Sir John Smith LCB My Lord Lord Chief Baron Smith Sir John Smith Sir John Vice-Chancellor of the High Court The Right Hon. the Vice-Chancellor Sir John Smith V-C My Lord Vice-Chancellor Sir John Smith Sir John Baron of the Exchequer The Hon. Mr Baron Smith Smith B My Lord Sir John Smith Sir John
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