Judicial titles in England and Wales


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. Members or former members of the higher judiciary who are Queen's Counsel do not use the post-nominal letters QC.
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 Form of address in courtForm of address out of courtPrivate titlePrivate form of address
President of the Supreme CourtThe Right Hon. the President of the Supreme CourtLord/Lady Jones PMy Lord/LadyLord/Lady JonesLord/Lady JonesLord/Lady Jones
Deputy President of the Supreme CourtThe Right Hon. the Deputy President of the Supreme CourtLord/Lady Jones DPMy Lord/LadyLord/Lady JonesLord/Lady JonesLord/Lady Jones
Male Justice of the Supreme CourtThe Right Hon. Lord JonesLord Jones SCJMy LordLord JonesLord JonesLord Jones
Female Justice of the Supreme CourtThe Right Hon. Lady SmithLady Smith SCJMy 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 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

OfficeJudicial titleAbbreviated title Form of address in courtForm of address out of courtPrivate titlePrivate form of address
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Justice of England and WalesLord Jones CJMy LordLord Chief JusticeLord Jones /The Lord Jones of Luton Lord Jones
Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England The Right Hon. the Master of the RollsLord Jones MRMy LordMaster of the RollsLord Jones /The Lord Jones of Luton Lord Jones
Master of the RollsThe Right Hon. the Master of the RollsSir John Smith MRMy LordMaster of the RollsSir John SmithSir John
Male Lord Justice of AppealThe Right Hon. Lord Justice SmithSmith LJMy LordJudgeSir John SmithSir John
Female Lord Justice of AppealThe Right Hon. Lady Justice SmithSmith LJMy LadyJudgeDame 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. When two or more Lord Justices are referred at the same time in a law report, their post-nominal letters become LJJ.

High Court

OfficeJudicial titleAbbreviated title Form of address in courtForm of address out of courtPrivate TitlePrivate form of address
Male President of the Queen's Bench DivisionThe Right Hon. the President of the Queen's Bench DivisionSir John Smith PMy LordPresidentSir John SmithSir John
Female President of the Queen's Bench DivisionThe Right Hon. the President of the Queen's Bench DivisionDame Jane Smith PMy LadyPresidentDame Jane SmithDame Jane
Male President of the Family DivisionThe Right Hon. the President of the Family DivisionSir John Smith PMy LordPresidentSir John SmithSir John
Female President of the Family DivisionThe Right Hon. the President of the Family DivisionDame Jane Smith PMy LadyPresidentDame Jane SmithDame Jane
Male Chancellor of the High CourtThe Right Hon. the Chancellor of the High CourtSir John Smith CMy LordChancellorSir John SmithSir John
Female Chancellor of the High CourtThe Right Hon. the Chancellor of the High CourtDame Jane Smith CMy LadyChancellorDame Jane SmithDame Jane
Male Justice of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice The Hon. Mr Justice SmithSmith JMy LordJudgeSir John SmithSir John
Female High Court judgeThe Hon. Mrs Justice SmithSmith JMy LadyJudgeDame Jane SmithDame Jane
Insolvency and Companies Court JudgeInsolvency and Companies Court Judge SmithICC Judge SmithJudgeJudge
MasterMaster SmithMaster SmithMasterMaster
Circuit Judge sitting as a High Court JudgeHis Honour Judge Smith HHJ Smith My Lord JudgeJudge SmithJudge
Barrister sitting as a Deputy High Court JudgeJohn Smith John Smith My Lord

If there are two Lord 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

OfficeJudicial titleAbbreviated title Form of address in courtForm of address out of courtPrivate titlePrivate form of address
Circuit Judge sitting at the Central Criminal CourtHis Honour Judge Smith HHJ Smith My Lord JudgeJudge SmithJudge
Honorary RecorderHis Honour Judge Smith HHJ Smith My Lord JudgeJudge SmithJudge
Circuit JudgeHis Honour Judge Smith HHJ Smith Your HonourJudgeJudge SmithJudge
Deputy Circuit JudgeHis Honour John Smith HH John Smith Your Honour
Recorder sitting at the Central Criminal CourtMr Recorder Smith Mr Recorder Smith My Lord
RecorderMr Recorder Smith Mr Recorder Smith Your Honour
Adjudicator Mr Adjudicator Smith Mr Adjudicator Smith Sir/Madam
District JudgeDistrict Judge Smith DJ Smith Judge/Sir/MadamJudge
District Judge District Judge SmithDJ SmithSir/Madam
Deputy District JudgeDeputy District Judge SmithDDJ SmithSir/Madam
MagistrateJohn Smith JPJohn Smith JPYour Worships; Sir/Madam

Extinct titles

OfficeJudicial titleAbbreviated title Form of address in courtForm of address out of courtPrivate titlePrivate form of address
Lord ChancellorThe Right Hon. the Lord High Chancellor of Great BritainLord Jones LCMy LordLord ChancellorLord Smith /The Lord Jones of Luton Lord Jones
Male Lord of Appeal in OrdinaryThe Right Hon. Lord Smith/The Lord Jones of LutonLord Smith/JonesMy LordLord Smith/JonesLord Smith /The Lord Jones of Luton Lord Smith/Jones
Female Lord of Appeal in OrdinaryThe Right Hon. Baroness Williams/The Baroness Hale of RichmondLady HaleMy LadyBaroness/Lady Williams/HaleBaroness/Lady Williams
The Baroness/Lady Hale of Richmond 		Baroness/Lady Williams/Hale
Chief Justice of the Common PleasThe Right Hon. the Chief Justice of the Common PleasSir John Smith CJMy LordChief JusticeSir John SmithSir John
Chief Baron of the ExchequerThe Right Hon. the Lord Chief BaronSir John Smith LCBMy LordLord Chief Baron SmithSir John SmithSir John
Vice-Chancellor of the High CourtThe Right Hon. the Vice-ChancellorSir John Smith V-CMy LordVice-ChancellorSir John SmithSir John
Baron of the ExchequerThe Hon. Mr Baron SmithSmith BMy LordSir John SmithSir John
Registrar Mr/Mrs Registrar SmithMr/Mrs Registrar SmithSir or Madam