Forms of address

Last revised January 18, 2024

BC Supreme Court and the BC Court of Appeal

Judges of the BC Supreme Court and the BC Court of Appeal are officially called "Justices".  The proper way of addressing them, as the context requires, is as follows:

• Chief Justice
• Associate Chief Justice
• Justice
• Madam Justice
• Mr. Justice
• Collectively, as Justices

Use of the terms “My Lord”, “My Lady”, “Your Lordship”, and “Your Ladyship” is to be avoided. This change was made by a Supreme Court Practice Direction issued on November 18, 2021 and some sources may still reference the old terms of address.

In speaking to a panel of judges of mixed genders, the presiding judge ought to be addressed first.

Supreme Court of Canada

The Supreme Court of Canada discourages the use of designations referring to "Lord or Lordship" or "Lady or Ladyship".  They prefer "Justice".

Provincial Court of BC

The proper designation of a provincial court judge is "Your Honour".

Other court officials

• The most appropriate form of address for an associate judge is "Your Honour".
• The most appropriate from of address for a district registrar and the registrar of the court is "Your Honour."
• The most appropriate form of address for a sheriff or deputy sheriff is "Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff."
• The most appropriate form of address for a court clerk is "Court Clerk."

Out of court

• Chief Justice
• Mr. Justice
• Madam Justice
• Judge X
• Sir
• Madam

Upon retirement

Judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of BC are eligible to retain the title of "Honourable", though not all choose to do so.

Provincial Court judges may be referred to, and may refer to themselves, as "Judge X (retired)”. 

Written correspondence

Letters addressed to the Chief Justice of Canada should be addressed "The Right Honourable (first and last names), Chief Justice of Canada."  All other Chief Justices are addressed "The Honourable (first and last names), Chief Justice of (appropriate province or court). 

Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Tax Court of Canada should be addressed "The Honourable (first and last names), Judge of the xxxx Court of Canada".

BC Supreme Court and Court of Appeal justices can be addressed as "Dear Mr. Justice X", "Dear Madam Justice X", "Dear Sir", "Dear Madam". 

Provincial Court judges can be addressed as "Dear Judge X".

It is usually unnecessary to include "The Honourable" in written or spoken communications of pleadings except in formal orders of the court.  The judges of the Provincial Court are properly entitled to be addressed in formal communications as "The Honourable ..."

In writing, refer to an associate judge as “Associate Judge X”.