How to address a US Judge (original) (raw)

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Abbess, Christian Orthodox Abbot, Christian Orthodox Accountant Acting Official Adjutant General Admiral, Rear Alderman Archbishop, Catholic Archbishop, Christian Orthodox Archdeacon, Episcopal Archimandrite Architect Archpriest Ambassador to the U.S. from a foreign country Ambassador of the U.S. American Indian Chief Assemblyman U.S., State / or Assemblywoman Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice of a State Supreme Court Attorney Attorney General Attorney, U.S. Australian Officials Baron, Baroness British Officials, Royalty, Nobility Brother, Catholic Brother, Christian Orthodox Bishop, Catholic Bishop, Christian Orthodox Bishop, Episcopal Board Member Boy Brigadier General Canadian Officials Candidate Captain, USA, USAF, USMC Cardinal Chairman Federal Reserve Chaplain in the Armed Services Chaplain of Congress Chargé d’Affaires Chief Executive Officer Chief Judge Chief Justice, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice, of a State Supreme Court Chief of Police Chief of Staff Chief Operating Officer Child Clergy & Religious Officials Colonel, "Honorary" Kentucky, or other state/organization Colonel, USA, USAF, or USMC Congressman, U.S. Congresswoman, U.S. Consul and or Consul General Commissioner Corporate Executive Councilman Councilwoman Counselor (Diplomat) Countess Couples Curator Dalai Lama Deacon Dean, academic Dean, clergy Deceased Persons Delegate, U.S., State Dentist Deputy Chief of Mission Deputy Marshal Designate, Elect, Pro Tempore Diplomats District Attorney Doctor of Dentistry Doctor of Medicine Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Doctor of Osteopathy Doctor, Other Disciplines Doctorate Doctorate, honorary Earl Elect, Designate Pro Tempore Eminence Etiquette Excellency Fiancee First, Second, Third_, etc._ First Lady, Spouse of the President of the United States First Lady, Member of Her White House Staff First Lady, Spouse of a Governor or Lt. Gov. First Lieutenant Flag Protocol Former Officials Freeholder Geshe General USA, USAF, USMC Girl Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Lt., Spouse Governor, Tribal Council Governor, U.S. State Governor, Former Governor Spouse of Governor's Staff, Member of Governors, Board of Honorable, The Honorary degrees Honourable, The Indian Chief Inspector General Introductions Invitations Writing & Addressing Invitations Military: Writing & Addressing Judge of US City or US Count Judge, US Federal Junior, Senior, I, II, III, etc. Justice, Associate Federal Supreme Court Justice, Associate State Supreme Court King Knight Late, The (deceased persons) Lawyer Lieutenant Lieutenant Colonel , USA, USAF, USMC Lieutenant General, USA, USAF, USMC Lieutenant Governor Major USA, USAF, USMC Major General, USA, USAF, USMC Man, business Man, social Marquess or Marchioness Married Women Marshal for a Judicial District, U.S. Mayor of a U.S. City Medic Minister, Protestant Clergy Miss Monk, Christian Orthodox Monsignor Most Reverend, The Mother Superior Mr. (Social) Mr. (Business) Mrs. Mr. & Mrs. / Couples Ms. Name Tags Nobility, British Nobility, Other Nun, Catholic Nun, Orthodox Nurse Officer, Police Pastor, Christian Clergy Patriarch, Christian Orthodox Patriarch, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople People with Two Titles Petty Officer Physician PhD Place Cards Police Chief Police Officer Pope, Catholic Pope, Coptic Postmaster General Post-Nominal Abbreviations Presbyter, Orthodox President, corporate President of College or University President of a US State Assembly President of the U.S.A. President of the U.S.A., former (President of the U.S.) Member of The White House Staff President of the U.S., spouse of President-elect of the U.S. Priest, Catholic Priest, Christian Orthodox Prime Minister Professionals & Academics Professor Pro Tempore, Elect, Designate Queen Rabbi Ranger, Texas Representative, U.S., Federal Representative, U.S., State Resident Commissioner Retired Military1. Formula For How to Address 2. Q&A / Blog On Use of Rank by Retired Military 3. Q&A / Blog on How to Address Retired Military Reverend, The Right Reverend, The School Board Member Second Lieutenant Secretary, U.S. Department, Member of the Cabinet Secretary of Defense, U.S. Secretary General of the U.N. Senator, U.S., Federal Senator, U.S., State Senator, Canadian Senior, Junior, I, II, III, etc. Senior Judge Sergeant Sergeant at Arms Sheriff Sister, Catholic Solicitor General Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Specialist Spouse of the President of the U.S. Spouse of the Vice President of the U.S. Surgeon General Texas Ranger The Honorable Tribal Officials Two Titles, Person With US Attorney US Federal Officials US State Officials US Municipal Officials Venerable, The Veteran (not Retired) Veterinarian Very Reverend, The Vice President of the U.S. Spouse of the Vice President of the U.S. Vice President-elect of the U.S. Viscount and/or Viscountess Warrant Officer Widow White House Staff Woman, business Woman, social

ON-LINE GUIDE TO FORMS OF ADDRESS * * * BLOG: Robert HIckey Answers Questions From On-Line Users * * * VIDEO of Robert Hickey * * * About the book: HONOR & RESPECT

Abbess, Christian Orthodox Abbot, Christian Orthodox Accountant Acting Official Adjutant General Admiral, Rear Alderman Archbishop, Catholic Archbishop, Christian Orthodox Archdeacon, Episcopal Archimandrite Architect Archpriest Ambassador to the U.S. from a foreign country Ambassador of the U.S. American Indian Chief Assemblyman U.S., State / or Assemblywoman Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice of a State Supreme Court Attorney Attorney General Attorney, U.S. Australian Officials Baron, Baroness British Officials, Royalty, Nobility Brother, Catholic Brother, Christian Orthodox Bishop, Catholic Bishop, Christian Orthodox Bishop, Episcopal Board Member Boy Brigadier General Canadian Officials Candidate Captain, USA, USAF, USMC Cardinal Chairman Federal Reserve Chaplain in the Armed Services Chaplain of Congress Chargé d’Affaires Chief Executive Officer Chief Judge Chief Justice, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice, of a State Supreme Court Chief of Police Chief of Staff Chief Operating Officer Child Clergy & Religious Officials Colonel, "Honorary" Kentucky, or other state/organization Colonel, USA, USAF, or USMC Congressman, U.S. Congresswoman, U.S. Consul and or Consul General Commissioner Corporate Executive Councilman Councilwoman Counselor (Diplomat) Countess Couples Curator Dalai Lama Deacon Dean, academic Dean, clergy Deceased Persons Delegate, U.S., State Dentist Deputy Chief of Mission Deputy Marshal Designate, Elect, Pro Tempore Diplomats District Attorney Doctor of Dentistry Doctor of Medicine Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Doctor of Osteopathy Doctor, Other Disciplines Doctorate Doctorate, honorary Earl Elect, Designate Pro Tempore Eminence Etiquette Excellency Fiancee First, Second, Third_, etc._ First Lady, Spouse of the President of the United States First Lady, Member of Her White House Staff First Lady, Spouse of a Governor or Lt. Gov. First Lieutenant Flag Protocol Former Officials Freeholder Geshe General USA, USAF, USMC Girl Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Lt., Spouse Governor, Tribal Council Governor, U.S. State Governor, Former Governor Spouse of Governor's Staff, Member of Governors, Board of Honorable, The Honorary degrees Honourable, The Indian Chief Inspector General Introductions Invitations Writing & Addressing Invitations Military: Writing & Addressing Judge of US City or US Count Judge, US Federal Junior, Senior, I, II, III, etc. Justice, Associate Federal Supreme Court Justice, Associate State Supreme Court King Knight Late, The (deceased persons) Lawyer Lieutenant Lieutenant Colonel , USA, USAF, USMC Lieutenant General, USA, USAF, USMC Lieutenant Governor Major USA, USAF, USMC Major General, USA, USAF, USMC Man, business Man, social Marquess or Marchioness Married Women Marshal for a Judicial District, U.S. Mayor of a U.S. City Medic Minister, Protestant Clergy Miss Monk, Christian Orthodox Monsignor Most Reverend, The Mother Superior Mr. (Social) Mr. (Business) Mrs. Mr. & Mrs. / Couples Ms. Name Tags Nobility, British Nobility, Other Nun, Catholic Nun, Orthodox Nurse Officer, Police Pastor, Christian Clergy Patriarch, Christian Orthodox Patriarch, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople People with Two Titles Petty Officer Physician PhD Place Cards Police Chief Police Officer Pope, Catholic Pope, Coptic Postmaster General Post-Nominal Abbreviations Presbyter, Orthodox President, corporate President of College or University President of a US State Assembly President of the U.S.A. President of the U.S.A., former (President of the U.S.) Member of The White House Staff President of the U.S., spouse of President-elect of the U.S. Priest, Catholic Priest, Christian Orthodox Prime Minister Professionals & Academics Professor Pro Tempore, Elect, Designate Queen Rabbi Ranger, Texas Representative, U.S., Federal Representative, U.S., State Resident Commissioner Retired Military1. Formula For How to Address 2. Q&A / Blog On Use of Rank by Retired Military 3. Q&A / Blog on How to Address Retired Military Reverend, The Right Reverend, The School Board Member Second Lieutenant Secretary, U.S. Department, Member of the Cabinet Secretary of Defense, U.S. Secretary General of the U.N. Senator, U.S., Federal Senator, U.S., State Senator, Canadian Senior, Junior, I, II, III, etc. Senior Judge Sergeant Sergeant at Arms Sheriff Sister, Catholic Solicitor General Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Specialist Spouse of the President of the U.S. Spouse of the Vice President of the U.S. Surgeon General Texas Ranger The Honorable Tribal Officials Two Titles, Person With US Attorney US Federal Officials US State Officials US Municipal Officials Venerable, The Veteran (not Retired) Veterinarian Very Reverend, The Vice President of the U.S. Spouse of the Vice President of the U.S. Vice President-elect of the U.S. Viscount and/or Viscountess Warrant Officer Widow White House Staff Woman, business Woman, social

How to Address a Judge of a United States Federal CourtEnvelope, official: _The Honorable (Full name) (Name of Court) (Address)_Letter salutation: Dear Judge (surname):All about The HonorableLink to Q&A just on officials in the U.S. addressed as The Honorable How Do I Address a Former Official?Link to Q&A /Blog just on Former Officials (not Military) FYI, here is what's come in to the Blog that relates to this office/rank. For recent questions sent in, check out Robert Hickey's Blog. For specific offices/ranks, check out Robert Hickey's On-Line Guide. **Is a Former Judge Still "The Honorable"?**Dear Robert, I have a question regarding a former district court judge (in New Hampshire) that has returned to private practice. Would this person still be called "The Hon.," or would that be inappropriate because of his new role? _--- Mark in New Hampshire_Hi MarkThe rule is "once The Honorable, always The Honorable." So, address the official envelope: The Honorable (full name) (Name of Firm) Address Retired judges are usually addressed in conversation as "Judge (surname)" However this judge might not be using "judge" as an honorific. A judge who has returned to private practice would be addressed as "Mr. (surname)" professionally. That way he would not be addressed as "Judge (surname)" in court in the presence of the presiding judge! But that said ... friends might orally address him as Judge (surname) socially. We have a tradition in the US of using only one 'honorific" at a time. E.g., an Navy Captain who is a Doctor, might be addressed as "Captain (surname)" when he is your commanding officer, and as "Dr. (surname)" when he is examining your injured foot. But he is never "Captain Dr." or "Dr. Captain." -- Robert HickeyHow to Address a Judge and His Spouse? I am writing a letter from a High School to a Judge and his wife regarding their child. What is the proper salutation for the letter? Dear ............?? -- Thanks, D.N. Dear D.N.: On pages 145-146 in my chapter on Joint Forms of Address I answer this question. The most formal salutation for a judge and his spouse (if she uses the same last name) would be: Dear Judge Jennings and Mrs. Jennings: Most formally people who hold high offices get their full name as a unit ... so Dear Judge and Mrs. Jennings would not be traditionally correct. Wives who use the same surname as their spouses traditionally lose their given name with addressed along with their husband. -- Robert Hickey How to Address a Judge and Her Husband? How to I address a letter to a judge and her husband? -- Sam O'Brien Dear Mr. O'Brien: I have a chapter in my book on joint forms of address to show the best form of addresses for men and women officials and their spouses. In a joint form of address the person with the higher title's name goes first. So if the wife is the judge and the husband is a "Mr." the form would be The Honorable Nancy Jennings and Mr. Franklin Jennings 2345 Westside Road Melville, NY 11747 Note that when the spouse is a man ... he get's his full name "Mr Franklin Jennings" And the salutation would be: Dear Judge Jennings and Mr. Jennings: -- Robert Hickey How to List a Judge in a Journal's Table of Contents? Mr. Hickey, If a student law journal is publishing an article by a judge, should they list him in the table of contents as Honorable (first name, last name) or just by name? -- Jason BrandDear Mr. Brand, Most formally in written direct address he or she is: The Honorable (first name, last name) Then after his name identify him as "Chief Judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals of New York" or whatever ... In a academic journal ... if academic post-nominals are appropriate ... "The Honorable" is never used with post-nominal YES: (First name. last name), JD NO: The Honorable (first name. last name), JD I've seen Harry Reid, Senator from Utah referred to in a law journal as Harry Reid, JD, then they went on to identify him as the "Majority Leader and Senior Senator from Utah ..." A 'by line' in a journal is not a direct form of address so the rules of 'how to address a letter' are not so definitive. -- Robert Hickey How to Write A Judge's Name on a Certificate? I see in your book forms of address for judges, but what about printing a certificate for an advisory committee in which we have both federal and state judges…..should the word honorable be used? -- R.A. Dear R.A., All US judges are addressed as "The Honorable (Full Name)" Some are appointed by the President ... which entitles them to be be: The Honorable (first name) (surname) Other are elected in general elections ... which also entitles them to be: The Honorable (first name) (surname) What options were you thinking of? A conversational form like Judge (Surname)? Or just their Full Name, Senior Judge, Third Circuit Court? Using The Honorable is correct and is the most formal way to write their name. And therefore, they like it. I include all the forms of writing the names of judges and justices ... federal, state, and local ... in my book's chapter on US Federal, State and Municipal Officials. -- Robert Hickey Capitalization of the "Y" in Your Honor? I have a question about capitalization. We actually have a post where readers can submit questions about capitalization, and in our post we discuss honorifics. Our advice to readers was to capitalize honorifics such as 'Your Honor.' A guest left a comment stating: "I beg to differ about your Honor. The court reporters in New York City have never capitalized the “y” in “your” while capitalizing the “H” in “Honor.” this has been consistent for decades (I started practicing here in 1973.)" My question is - should that 'y' be capitalized at all times, or not? My first instinct would be yes, as both words 'Your Honor' take the place of the judge's name and are meant to honor him or her. In any case, I'd like to be able to answer this reader. Thanks so much for any help you can give us! I'll be glad to give you credit in my answer. -- Samantha at PricelessWriters Dear Samantha @ PW: I like your logic, but the closest I can suggest is when the courtesy title is at the beginning of a line ... the article is capitalized ... but when it is in the middle of a sentence, then the article is not: For example. On an envelope: The Honorable Michael Bloomberg Mayor of New York City Hall New York, NY 10007 But in a sentence, the "the" is not capitalized: Today at 2:00 p.m. there will be an address by the Honorable Michael Bloomberg ... Of course it is not exactly comparable since Your Honor is an oral form in the US ... not a written form ... so it would not be on an invitation or letter. Your Honor is form used principally in the court room. Salutations are based on oral forms of address, but a salutation to a judge would be Judge Smith not Your Honor. Note to other readers: here are the links to Samantha's blog (a really good source) at PricelessWriters: The original post on capitalization / and the blog of the questions they receive. -- Robert Hickey More on Capitalization of the "Y" in Your Honor #2? What do you suggest when writing to a court when you do not know the name of the judge, but know that the document will in fact be read by a judge? You indicate 'Your Honor' is an oral form, but what about when it must be written? (Case in point, it's written herein.) I suggest that in that case Your Honor follow the same rule as Your Highness or Your Majesty. In short, the Y and H are capitalized. -- RC @ comcast.net Dear RC: I am not so sure Your Honor is something that "must be written." I know this is a hypothetical question, but I can't imagine I would direct a letter to a court and not find out exactly to whom it should be addressed. * Letters to a known judge are correctly addressed to Dear Judge (surname). * Letters to any unknown person ... including a unknown judge at a court ... are best addressed to Dear Sir: or Dear Sirs: or Dear Sir or Madam: etc. Samantha's previous note was more of a copyediting question than a forms of address question, and I will leave the copyediting issues those professional copy editors who make all the other writers look so good. -- Robert Hickey

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