How Do I Address the Judge?: Difference between revisions

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How you address the judge depends on which court you are in. Each court has a particular honourific that should be used when addressing the judge, and the judge is properly addressed by that honourific, not as "sir", "ma'am" or something else.
How you address the judge depends on which court you are in. Each court has a particular honorific that should be used when addressing the judge, and the judge is properly addressed by that honorific, not as "sir," "ma'am," or something else.


Judges of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are addressed as ''My Lord'' or ''My Lady'', or ''Your Lordship'' or ''Your Ladyship'' depending on the grammatical context.  
Judges of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are addressed as ''My Lord,'' or ''My Lady,'' or ''Your Lordship,'' or ''Your Ladyship,'' depending on the grammatical context.  


Masters and registrars of the Supreme Court are addressed as ''Your Honour''. Provincial Court judges are also called ''Your Honour''.
Masters and registrars of the Supreme Court are addressed as ''Your Honour.'' Provincial Court judges are also called ''Your Honour.''
 
It used to be the case that justices of the peace were properly referred to as ''Your Worship,'' but this practice is fading somewhat, and it is now acceptable to refer to them as ''Your Honour.''


It used to be the case that justices of the peace were properly referred to as ''Your Worship'', but this practice is fading somewhat, and it is now acceptable to refer to them as ''Your Honour''.


{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[JP Boyd]], March 24, 2013}}
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[JP Boyd]], March 24, 2013}}


{{JP Boyd on Family Law Navbox|type=how}}
{{JP Boyd on Family Law Navbox|type=how}}
{{Creative Commons
|title = JP Boyd on Family Law
|author = [[JP Boyd|John-Paul Boyd]] and Courthouse Libraries BC
}}


[[Category:How Do I?|A]]
[[Category:How Do I?|A]]
[[Category:Courtroom Protocol]]
[[Category:Courtroom Protocol]]

Revision as of 03:00, 29 April 2013


How you address the judge depends on which court you are in. Each court has a particular honorific that should be used when addressing the judge, and the judge is properly addressed by that honorific, not as "sir," "ma'am," or something else.

Judges of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are addressed as My Lord, or My Lady, or Your Lordship, or Your Ladyship, depending on the grammatical context.

Masters and registrars of the Supreme Court are addressed as Your Honour. Provincial Court judges are also called Your Honour.

It used to be the case that justices of the peace were properly referred to as Your Worship, but this practice is fading somewhat, and it is now acceptable to refer to them as Your Honour.


This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by JP Boyd, March 24, 2013.