ADDRESSING A JUDGE
If you wish to address a judge, the tables below may be of assistance.
Most senior judges
The title of Scotland’s most senior judge reflects his or her position as head of both the civil courts (Lord President) and the criminal courts (Lord Justice General). He or she, as Lord President, is also the head of the judiciary. On appointment as a judge, he or she is given a judicial title, but is known as Lord President and Lord Justice General on taking these offices. The Lord President is a privy counsellor and may be a peer.
| The Lord President | In correspondence | Dear | In Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil (If a peer) |
The Right Honourable the Lord/Lady Smith Lord President of the Court of Session | Lord President | My Lord /Lady |
| Criminal (If a peer) |
The Right Honourable the Lord/Lady Smith Lord Justice General of Scotland | Lord Justice General | My Lord /Lady |
| If not a peer |
The Right Honourable Lord/Lady Smith Lord President of the Court of Session / Lord Justice General of Scotland | Lord President | My Lord /Lady |
The Lord Justice Clerk also receives a judicial title as a judge, but like the Lord President, he or she is always described by his or her office. The Lord Justice Clerk will also be a privy counsellor, and may be a peer.
| The Lord Justice Clerk | In correspondence | Dear | In Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| If not a peer |
The Right Honourable Lord/Lady Smith Lord Justice Clerk | Lord Justice Clerk | My Lord /Lady |
| If a peer |
The Right Honourable the Lord/Lady Smith Lord Justice Clerk | Lord Justice Clerk | My Lord /Lady |
Senator of the College of Justice
The judges of the Court of Session (the supreme civil court), who are also the judges of the High Court of Justiciary (the supreme criminal court), are appointed by the Monarch as Senators of the College of Justice. On appointment, a senator will take a judicial title by which he or she will be known both in office and on retirement. The courtesy style of “Lord” or “Lady” should be distinguished from a peerage title, but some judges are in fact peers. Judges of the Outer House of the Court of Session will have the prefix “Honourable” to their title. Judges of the Inner House will be privy counsellors, conferring on them the prefix “Right Honourable”. The Chairman of the Scottish Land Court is addressed in the same way as a judge of the Court of Session.
| Office / Position | In correspondence | Dear | In Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| If not a privy counsellor | The Honourable Lord/Lady Smith | Lord/Lady Smith | My Lord /Lady |
| If a privy counsellor |
The Right Honourable Lord/Lady Smith | Lord/Lady Smith | My Lord /Lady |
If a privy counsellor and a peer |
The Right Honourable the Lord/Lady Smith | Lord/Lady Smith | My Lord /Lady |
Sheriff principal, sheriff and summary sheriff
Read more about sheriff court judiciary.
| Office / Position | In correspondence | Dear | In Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheriff Principal |
Sheriff Principal Smith | Sheriff Principal Smith | My Lord /Lady |
| Sheriff |
Sheriff Smith | Sheriff Smith | My Lord /Lady |
| Summary Sheriff |
Summary Sheriff Smith | Summary Sheriff Smith | My Lord /Lady |
Justice of the peace
Read more about justices of the peace.
| Office | In correspondence | Dear | In Court |
|---|---|---|---|
Justice of the peace | Mr/Ms (no judicial title) | Mr/Ms | Your Honour |