Correctly Addressed

Forms of Address

How to address a magistrate or justice of the peace

A magistrate or justice of the peace is addressed as "The Honorable [Full Name]" on the envelope, with their specific court or jurisdiction on the next line. The salutation is "Dear Judge [Last Name]:" in most jurisdictions, though some regions use "Dear Magistrate [Last Name]:" specifically.

Checked September 10, 2026/5 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
The elegant wooden interior of a small courtroom.

A magistrate and a justice of the peace sit close enough to a full judgeship that The Honorable and “Your Honor” both carry over directly, but the office itself varies more by state than almost any other title on this site, both in scope of authority and in exactly which salutation local convention prefers.

When the local preference is not known, defaulting to the same “Judge” form used for a full judge is the safer choice, understood everywhere even in places that also recognize “Magistrate” as the more specific, locally preferred alternative.

Step by step

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

    Then the specific court or jurisdiction on the next line. Magistrate and justice of the peace authority and formal title vary meaningfully by state, so naming the exact court matters more here than for most offices.

    THE HONORABLE FRANK D OSEIMAGISTRATEDISTRICT COURT OF MARYLAND200 SAINT PAUL PLBALTIMORE MD 21202
    CorrectStandard envelope format for a magistrate.

  2. Use Judge or Magistrate in the salutation, depending on local convention

    "Dear Judge [Last Name]:" is broadly accepted almost everywhere, since a magistrate performs judicial functions. Some jurisdictions specifically prefer "Dear Magistrate [Last Name]:" instead, distinguishing the role from a full judgeship. When in doubt, "Judge" is the safer general default.

  3. Address a justice of the peace the same way

    The Honorable, full name, "Justice of the Peace" as the office line, and the same "Dear Judge [Last Name]:" or a locally preferred variant in the salutation.

  4. Address a clerk of the court differently

    A clerk of the court is an administrative officer, not a judicial one, and does not use The Honorable. Address them as "Mr./Ms. [Full Name], Clerk of Court," with a standard "Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]:" salutation.

A courtroom interior with wooden benches and a glass partition.

Quick reference

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RoleEnvelope opens withSalutation
MagistrateThe Honorable [Full Name]Dear Judge/Magistrate [Last Name]:
Justice of the PeaceThe Honorable [Full Name]Dear Judge [Last Name]:
Town JusticeThe Honorable [Full Name]Dear Judge [Last Name]:
Clerk of Court (administrative)Mr./Ms. [Full Name], Clerk of CourtDear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]:

Special cases

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

Does a magistrate have the same authority as a full judge?

It varies significantly by state and court system; some magistrates handle a limited category of cases, others hold broader authority similar to a judge. The address form does not change based on scope of authority, only on the office title itself.

Is Justice of the Peace still a common office, or mostly historical?

It remains an active office in some states, particularly for rural areas and smaller jurisdictions, though many states have phased it out in favor of magistrate or municipal judge roles. Confirm the office still exists in the relevant jurisdiction before assuming the title applies.

A polished wooden courtroom interior with a podium and seating.

Key terms on this page

The Honorable
A courtesy title used before the full name of a current or former holder of a judicial office, including a magistrate or justice of the peace.
Clerk of Court
An administrative officer responsible for court records and case filing, a distinct, non-judicial role that does not use The Honorable.

Check the address before you mail

Questions people ask

How does a magistrate differ from a full judge?
The Honorable and the general "Judge" salutation apply to both, but a magistrate typically holds narrower authority, handling a specific category of cases, and the exact scope varies significantly by state. See how to address a judge for the full-judge equivalent of this format.
Which salutation should I default to if I do not know the local convention?
"Dear Judge [Last Name]:" is the safer general default, since it is broadly understood and accepted even in jurisdictions that also recognize "Magistrate" as an alternative.
Is a magistrate addressed as Your Honor in person, the same as a judge?
Yes, "Your Honor" is standard courtroom address for a magistrate performing judicial functions, the same convention used for a full judge.
Do you call a magistrate "Your Honor"?
Yes. A magistrate is addressed as Your Honor in the courtroom, the same as a full judge, since the title follows the judicial function rather than the specific rank. On the envelope, that same authority carries over as The Honorable before the full name.

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