Correctly Addressed

Forms of Address

How to address a judge

A judge is addressed as "The Honorable [Full Name]" on the envelope, with their specific court on the next line. The salutation is "Dear Judge [Last Name]:" and in the courtroom, "Your Honor" is used instead of the name. A Supreme Court Chief Justice uses "Mr./Madam Chief Justice" in place of "Judge."

Checked September 10, 2026/7 min read

Claire Post

Written by Claire PostReviewed against USPS Publication 28

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What is on this page6 sections
  1. 01Step by step
  2. 02Quick reference
  3. 03Special cases
  4. 04Key terms
  5. 05Check before you mail
  6. 06Questions people ask
A modern courthouse building against a clear blue sky.

A judge title splits cleanly into two situations that rarely get confused with each other in practice but are worth stating explicitly: how you write to a judge, and how you speak to one while court is in session. The two forms are genuinely different, not just more or less formal versions of the same thing.

Written correspondence uses The Honorable and “Judge [Last Name],” the same pattern as most other titles on this site. The courtroom itself is the exception, where “Your Honor” takes over entirely and neither the name nor “Judge” gets used at all.

Step by step

  1. Start the envelope with The Honorable and the full name

    Then the specific court on the next line, since "judge" alone does not identify which court or level. Federal, state, and local courts all use this same opening pattern.

    THE HONORABLE ROBERT J ALVAREZUNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGEUNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT123 FEDERAL PLAZANEW YORK NY 10007
    CorrectStandard envelope format for a federal district judge.

  2. Use Judge plus last name in written correspondence

    "Dear Judge [Last Name]:" is the standard salutation for any judge below the Supreme Court, federal or state, regardless of the specific court.

  3. Switch to Your Honor only in the courtroom itself

    When speaking to a judge directly during a proceeding, "Your Honor" replaces both the name and the word "Judge." This is courtroom-specific; written correspondence still uses "Judge [Last Name]."

  4. Use the Chief Justice and Associate Justice forms for the Supreme Court

    The Chief Justice of the United States is addressed as "The Chief Justice" or "Mr./Madam Chief Justice," not "Judge." An Associate Justice is addressed as "Mr./Madam Justice [Last Name]" or simply "Justice [Last Name]."

  5. Know that a former or retired judge often keeps the title

    Unlike most offices on this list, "Judge" or "Justice" is commonly retained as a courtesy title for life after leaving the bench, though The Honorable and the court line are dropped from the formal envelope address.

A close-up of a judicial gavel resting on a courtroom desk.

Quick reference

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WhoEnvelope opens withSalutation
Federal or state judgeThe Honorable [Full Name]Dear Judge [Last Name]:
Chief Justice, US Supreme CourtThe Chief JusticeDear Mr./Madam Chief Justice:
Associate Justice, US Supreme CourtMr./Madam Justice [Last Name]Dear Justice [Last Name]:
In the courtroom (any judge)n/aYour Honor

Special cases

The rule above covers most people. Here is what changes for the rest.

Is a magistrate or Justice of the Peace addressed the same way as a judge?

The Honorable pattern still applies, but the specific office line and salutation can differ from a full judge depending on the state. See <a href="/forms-of-address/magistrate-justice-of-the-peace/">how to address a magistrate</a> for the exact distinctions.

How do I address a retired or senior-status judge?

"The Honorable [Full Name], Retired" or "Senior Judge [Full Name]" on the envelope, and "Judge [Last Name]" continues as the standard salutation, since the courtesy title is generally kept for life.

Does a former Chief Justice keep being addressed as Chief Justice?

By long-standing convention, a former Chief Justice is often still addressed as "The Chief Justice" or "Mr./Madam Chief Justice" as a courtesy, distinct from most other offices where the title is dropped after leaving.

A spacious, elegant wooden courtroom with empty seats.

Key terms on this page

The Honorable
A courtesy title used before the full name of a current or former holder of a high government office, including a judge.
Your Honor
The direct courtroom address for a judge, used in place of their name or the word "Judge" during in-person proceedings.
Associate Justice
The title held by every member of the US Supreme Court other than the Chief Justice, addressed as "Justice [Last Name]" rather than "Judge."

Check the address before you mail

Questions people ask

Why does the Supreme Court use Justice instead of Judge?
"Justice" is the specific title for a member of the Supreme Court, established by long tradition rather than a strict rule, while "Judge" is the general title for members of lower federal and state courts.
Is Your Honor used outside the courtroom, like in a letter?
No. "Your Honor" is specifically a spoken, in-person courtroom form. Written correspondence to a judge uses "Dear Judge [Last Name]:" instead, even for a matter related to their court.
How is a judge different from addressing an Attorney General?
A judge sits on the bench in the judicial branch, while the Attorney General leads a law-enforcement department in the executive branch. See how to address an Attorney General for that distinction in full.

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