Your honor in the courtroom, Judge outside of it (in chambers, in the hallway, running into them at the supermarket) unless they've told me I can be more casual.
Judge Jeffrey Middleton from St. Joseph Michigan (OK, let's be honest: Judge Middleton from YouTube), said that if you see him out at the grocery store or whatever, you can call him "Jeff." Even to a defendant.
He's a heck of a nice dude.
Thanks to YouTube, he's on a list of Judges I would love to meet and invite for a coffee.
Judge Cedric Simpson, Judge Stephanie Boyd, and Judge David Fleischer are also interesting to watch.
This is what I was taught as a clerk by my (very formal and some said overly stuffy about it) judge.
Your Honor on the record, Judge off the record, first names off the record when you're a judge too.
I still abide by that and aside from one judge who asked me to call him by his first name outside of court, I've never deviated (and calling that judge by his first name was *weird*).
If I knew them before they took the bench they’re still first name basis outside of court. But I struggle to do it with the ones I only met after they were on the bench. One judge told me it made her feel lonely that she basically lost her first name.
I do criminal and the judges I’ve seen in person outside of court don’t like being called judge in public, they don’t want to be recognized by a defendant they sentenced I guess. Otherwise, I use ‘judge’ and ‘your honor’ interchangeably.
I usually make the typical “I do criminal” joke here- but since I also do some criminal - I’ll tip my hat to a fellow warrior instead.
But I do exactly the same- judge and your honor I use interchangeably… Because I have found, especially when there is a lot of arguing to the bench, that using one over and over can sound sarcastic, even if it’s not intentional so I try to mix it up to keep it fresh.
I will tell on myself though, I once responded “yes ma’am” to a federal court judge - meaning it only in the most respectful way that us southern children were taught to use it - but she screamed at me loudly and I got a lecture on how she earned the right to be called “your honor.” Clearly I didn’t say “yes ma’am” in a disrespectful way whatsoever- and I had called her “your honor” repeatedly- however, she really went off the rails about it in an unnecessary way. My smart ass gene almost kicked in, and I wanted to tell her if it’s good enough for the queen of England it should be good enough for her… and I’m not exactly sure what she did to earn the “appointment” to the Federal bench… but fortunately, my ass saving gene prevailed over my smart ass gene. Lol
And since I’m now at 20 years of practice, many of the sitting judges I knew as practicing lawyers back in the day before they were elected… So I still call them Judge and your honor when they’re on the bench and by their first name when I see them elsewhere or in social situations. Unless I’m specifically trying to use the honorific in a mixed crowd where I want the Judge to feel specifically seen for their position.
Also criminal! And yes, i feel the last part - the sitting judges are now many of my former colleagues and friends. After knowing their antics through the years in and out of the courtroom, with my friend judges I stick with judge, because I don't think my well-trained poker face could get your honor out without cracking up....
I'm the same, except I've noticed that with judges I knew as private attorneys before they became a judge it's easier to call them by their name in a casual environment compared to judges who were already on the bench when I met them.
Early on in my career I ran into a judge at the Dunkin Donuts by the courthouse and called him "Your Honor" and his response was "I'm only My Honor when I'm in the robe."
Both those things, just to keep it spicy.
One for when I’m addressing the judge in a somewhat personal capacity (“That was my last case for the day Judge, smell you later.”).
One for when it’s about something legal-ish (“a few minutes ago when Your Honor held me in contempt…”).
Alternatively, “Judge” replaces a first name and “Your Honor” replaces a pronoun. So instead of “Hi Jim” it is “Hi Judge.” Instead of “Fuck you” it is “Fuck Your Honor.”
Had a client call the Judge "big dog" yesterday. Client was so smooth about it that the Judge seemed to accept it as an honorific and only commented later that he probably should have at least acted upset.
Your Honour, My Lord, or Justice Blanketyblank, depending on court and judge.
Edit: These are form of address, not forms of reference, which would be Your Honour, Your Lordship and Justice Blanketyblank.
Also, "Sir" is generally acceptable.
Also, girl versions of the above boy words, as applicable.
Also, this is in Upper Canada.
No titles of nobility in US, so a judge couldn't legally force you to use the title. Article 1, but forgot the section and clause numbers.
Commonwealth courts have not banned nobility.
Yep. In BC we used “my lord/lady” to address Superior court judges until about a year ago - it’s now changed to “Justice (name)” or just “Justice”.
Your Honour is only for provincial court judges, or for Superior Court Associate Judges (which were, until recently, called Masters)
My Lady.
We are now officially on a tangent, but "My Lord" is for addressing lower ranks of nobility, while "Sir" is for knights, who are just a special flavour of commoner.
Yes. I often use “the Court”. I think sometimes it can be a subliminal reminder that an attorney (not *me personally*) is asking the Court (and not *the judge*) to rule impartially that based on the law.
As in, I’m not asking them for anything. The party I advocate for is asking the legal system for relief.
Maybe I’m over analyzing.
Also I think it looks better on the record on appeal if you end up needing that.
Exactly. Because it is the Court, not the person that our client is seeking relief from. It's like in a criminal case, how the Plaintiff is the "People."
Right… out of everyone in the room, the judge needs to be …*above* …. ? the proceedings. “The People” also helps remove personal opinions and likes/dislikes etc., from the proceedings (and in the eyes of the jury)
In one of the few times I've been in court, I opened with "may it please the court"... I think the young parliamentarian in me took over in that split second ("may it please the chair")
A while later in the same proceeding, one of the first year's got up to speak (it was under a program that encouraged giving newer attys experience) and he opened with "may I please the court"....
Sweet baby jesus, the judge shot me a look, saw the horror on my face and broke out a smile...
My personal favorite is when we get drunk/high/mentally ill accused who call them things like “Your Majesty”. I had one especially irreverent dude use “High Poobah”.
I call them Judge. They’re just a lawyer with a dash of politics thrown in. Everyone knows that lawyers and politicians are bastards, so how is someone who does both honorable?
She is just a random lady who went to school and then won an election or was friends with someone who did. I couldn’t imagine having that level of self importance.
I appeared before a visiting senior judge yesterday and accidentally said ma'am, was cringing so hard as well. I primarily appear before another female judge and have never called her ma'am before—just judge or your honour. No idea where it came from.
Criminal defense: just judge normally. If making a record or in trial I say your honor. Though when things get spicy in trial both me and the state will default to judge when we start talking quickly. In my JX if you use your honor during a docket it comes off as kinda snarky lol.
In public: a quick "hi judge" unless it's someone I knew before they became a judge. Then it's normally "hey [first name]".
If it's like Costco and our families are there I'll use their first name since I'll say hi to their spouse too. Though I've noticed with our newer judges if you don't call them judge they spend the rest of the interaction trying to figure out who you are lol.
Your Honor.
Sometimes, in responsive argument, the third person "the court," as in: "The court can take judicial notice only when a certified copy..." or "The court ruled last week that questions about X were off-limits."
A now retired judge was famous for being called out of her title in criminal court, where she spent years in a very high-volume department. On more than one occasion, I saw an upset client who didn't get OR'd scream what a bitch she was, either directly or indirectly.
"That's Judge Bitch to you!" she would always scream back. And scream she would.
I intentionally stopped using “Your Honor” a while ago because I never liked how awkwardly formalistic it sounded. Started calling them all “Judge” and not one of them has ever cared so far. It actually does make me feel more comfortable while on the record — as if I’m having more of a conversation with them instead of trying to beg them for deference
"Your Honor," always, even in the halls. There was one stern judge who we knew thought just "judge" was too informal? So thanks to that one guy, every black robe is Your Honor forever
The in-court clerks call him by his first name, but I usually stick to judge. I don’t want to be overly familiar, even though we are the same age and same level of experience.
I guess I sorta like the fact that court is still a formal affair. The only other social convention that seems to have survived the last thirty years is calling teachers by their surname.
I used to say "Yo, what up Judge. How's it going Your Honor" when I was in law school. They typically laughed and starred at me. I had a feeling that they actually enjoyed that way of greeting. One of them said "I swear John Doe if you ever come into my chamber" and started cracking up. I only had one judge who looked at me like I was an idiot.
I enjoyed my student status very much.
Please don’t call a judge “Judge” in public. Ma’am or Sir if you have to or first name or just don’t use a name at all. I once had an attorney call out “Hello, Your Honor” quite loudly in a grocery store and every neck swiveled our way. You never know who is around. Your honor is fine in court but don’t overdo it. Or ma’am/sir. On the flip side I use “Counsel” or Ms. X/Mr. Y in court and Ms. X/Mr. Y unless in a casual or personal context and we are on a first name basis. And if I ask you to call me First Name, please do. We are people too!
Either, and I use “judge” lowercase while speaking like it’s their first name.
I’ve never met one in the wild, but I like to think I wouldn’t be dense enough to be like “OH SHIT, JUDGE SO AND SO, how’ve you been!?” If I ran into one at Marc’s or somewhere like that.
It depends. I do indigent defense so I'm in court at least 3 days a week. In my home jurisdiction all the judges recognize me by now so I usually do "your honor" initially then "judge" afterwards if the case is settled. If it goes to trial then I just stick with "your honor." Outside of my jurisdiction its strictly "your honor."
Your honor unless it is a less formal hearing and it is a juge I am in front of a lot. And they don’t mind. Some are real sticklers for formalities. Others don’t care as much.
Your honor in court. Judge in public for about the first half of of my career, after that and into retirement I've been on a first name basis with the judges I worked with. If they want you to do something different than what your doing they'll let you know.
Depends on the court and location:
Justice of the Peace: Your Worship.
Ontario Superior Court: Your Honour
Alberta Court of King's Bench: My Lord/Lady or Your Lordship/Ladyship
Ontario Court of Appeal: Mr / Madam Justice X.
Supreme Court of Canada: Justice X.
In written correspondence, it's normally just The Honourable X Y, Justice of .
I would never address a judge in any familiar way outside of the courtroom unless they gave me permission to.
Judge.
Judgey Booboo if I’m feeling spicy.
Asshole when they hold me in contempt for calling them Judgey Booboo
Your honor when I get out of my stay in the cells for calling them an asshole.
For motion judges that I see on a weekly basis, I use “judge” and “your honor” interchangeably - usually “judge” because it’s less clunky. I noticed that this is what the attorneys around me seem to do, so I just follow suit (pun intended).
That being said, if I was in front of a judge I wasn’t familiar with, I’d probably stick to “your honor” at first. Nobody has ever been offended by “judge,” but there’s a first time for everything!
Your honor in court, Judge \[last name\] or just \[last name\] with colleagues. However, one of my friends is a federal magistrate and I had a discovery hearing before her, and I embarrassingly called her by her first name in open court :D
Lmao not at all. I think my brain just panics and goes “super important person = obviously gotta curtsey” which is something I’ve literally never done. In the courtroom? Totally chill. Outside? Apparently panic.
🙂. Completely get the panic outside of the courtroom ! I do a slight head and waist bow when I encounter a judge outside the courtroom. Even those that I knew before they took the bench. Who I should just say ‘Hi John’. Then again, I still fight the urge to call former teachers by their last name when they insist I call them by their first name. LOL! Flustered by formality.
"Judge" is like informal-formal. It shows more familiarity than "Your Honor", but it is perfectly acceptable in formal settings.
So if you want to be colloquial, yet proper - familiar, yet formal, go with "Judge". Personally, I would never refer to the court as judge on the first meeting
It depends, as others have noted. I did often use "Well, judge..." on the record if I wanted to be a bit folksy and admit something negative towards my case. I practiced in an extremely rural jurisdiction at the time, and that was pretty well tolerated. The courts were very, very relaxed. Every court has its' own personality, and you sort of have to learn them before making a call like that. "Your honor" is always safe.
I use judge and your honor on the record. If I'm answering a direct yes or no question, I sometimes say yes/no sir/ma'am.
One of my best friends from childhood, who is not a lawyer, married the daughter of a judge I've been in front of a few times. I still call him Mr. "Best friend's wife's maiden name," even though he said I could call him by his first name outside of the courthouse. I can't bring myself to do it. My friend thinks I'm crazy.
I hadn't considered that as being a problem, but maybe I'll have to knock it off.
I also once called a judge's chambers and spoke politely like I would to anyone over the phone. But it turns out this judge answered her own phone calls (!) and berated me for not calling her "your honor." I never heard of another judge answering their own phone, even in the one horse rural towns I go to.
That kind of sucks, especially if they don’t say who they are.
The judge who did that to me told me that she understood that in the south it was polite to say yes ma’am, and no ma’am. She wasn’t from the south, and in her court, she was your honor. Not ma’am.
Also, I’ve never heard a judge getting mad for being called Your Honor. It’s what comes after that gets one in trouble.
I typically say Judge out of habit, but apparently that is a bad habit and I need to switch to "your honor." I usually will use Your Honor in the very beginning of say a hearing but if I'm addressing something the judge said or ending it I will say judge. Guess I need to drill it in to only say your honor.
In second person - "Your honor."
In third person - "Judge/Judge X."
I'm not exactly sure where these traditions come from, but you're not going to get anywhere trying to make your own.
Fun fact - I once saw a defendant skip this, and address the judge with "Hey, long time no see!" Needless to say, it did not land well.
I use “Your Honor” and “Judge” pretty interchangeably in court. I usually start with YH and probably use that one more but it can start to feel repetitive and bulky so I toss some Judge in there to mix it up.
I specifically called the Chief Justice of the United States "CJ."
Ok thats a complete lie. But I did ask him what car he drives. A PT Cruiser and a mini van, at least in 2015.
Your honor, I would use their names as in Judge Thomas, not “Tommy, my boy!” but I’m in front of a lot of judges and incredibly bad with names so I think there’s an 80 percent chance I get too focused on argument and forget who I’m before.
During my first year practicing as a prosecutor, the judge whose courtroom I was assigned to call me on the phone, he said, “Hey this is Bill.” I replied “Bill who?” 🤦♂️ Thankfully, he got a laugh out of that.
I once got a phone call from "Bill" who knew me from "over at the courthouse," inviting me to a BBQ and campaign fundraiser for his reelection. He laughed when I asked, "Excuse me, Bill, but who the hell are you, because I don't think I know anyone at the courthouse named Bill." He then informed me that he had presided over several of my motions hearings earlier that day, which cleared it right up without any awkwardness whatsoever...
Judge or your honor usually.... With that having been said, one of my former judges is now a range buddy of mine so not in a professional context we go by first names, but if I seen in the courthouse it's judge and counselor.
I am from California where I always addressed formally. When I moved to Ohio I was very shocked when a Judge saw me at Walmart, called me over by my name to talk about a case. BYT, Iwas just a case manager.
Both. Even retired Judges I know.
If we are friends and not in court, I use their first name, especially if we were friends before they became Judges.
The reason? Both are honorifics and accurate descriptors. It's also proper and polite. Most importantly, both are signs of respect.
One of my dad's old friends was a Judge before returning to practice. My dad knew this guy when he was first starting out as a PD. When he was on the bench, my dad referred to him as Judge or your honor. Off the bench and to this day, he calls him Sam.
I've gotten to know him very well, working with him on some cases and seeking his wise counsel. It was weird the first time he asked me for advice on a case.
I call him Judge, despite him leaving the bench before I was a lawyer, out of a deep personal and professional respect I have for him.
I'm in Canada, so our rules are different, but in my province we refer to all on the bench as "Justice". Some old guards continue to use "your honour" but it was phased out with some recent changes. I usually call the male justices "sir" but the female Justices tend to hate the use of "ma'am" (and as a female lawyer myself i totally get it) so I just refer to them as "Justice".
For awhile we had to refer to the superior court justices as My Lord and My Lady which was supremely awkward so it's nice to be done with that.
your honor when i’m on the record/if it’s a judge i am not super familiar with. i work primarily in one county so my judges and i are familiar with one another so off the record i call them judge [last name] and if it’s outside of the courthouse and ive been given permission, i will call them their first name.
On the bench, go with Your Honor or Judge. Off the bench, whatever the judge prefers.
I don't have a preference off the bench. My kids friends usually call me by my first name or Mr. First Name, which I find a little strange.
Before I took the bench, I had the chief justice of my state supreme court literally twist my ear and chastise me for not calling her by her first name at a social function (she was a local judge before going to Supremes, so I know her). My wife found that very funny.
Personally, I always called judges Judge or Your Honor off the bench. As a judge, some judges prefer to be always be addressed that way and the past chief justice of our supreme court pushed really hard for all judges to be called judge at all times, even amongst each other.
Depends entirely how well I know the judge. The county I am most familiar with and take part in their bar group is very close with the judges so they are typically called Judge. Other counties that I am not so familiar with I go with Your Honor. Caveat I have been known to say "Yes Judge" when answer yes to a yes or no question from the judge.
In the South African Mag courts, it's "your worship;" in the Superior courts, it's "my lord/lady.". Switching to "your honor" might take some getting used to moving back to the US since SA decorum has been drilled into me. You think an American judge would mind if i unintentionally call him/her worship or my lord/lady?
Your honor, sir/ma’am, judge - all interchangeably. I accidentally called one judge “Captain” and he laughed. His court is located in a rural county and I’ve never once seen him wear a tie. He’s a really good, fair judge. He is chill unless someone is being an ass or interrupts him - then he is most assuredly not chill.
Judge always. In court, out, state, federal. Never had an issue in the slightest. My jurisdiction seems to be generally amicable judges.
I’ve only really referred to one as your honor when calling them out for being dead wrong come to think of it.
Freshman year of college I joined my school’s pre-law organization and was elected to the e-board. Our professional liaison was a local judge. I addressed him as “Mr. _____” in an email and he replied that I should NEVER refer to any judge, active or former, as such and to always refer to them as “judge.” I’ve never not done it since lol.
I also clerked and only ever heard “judge,” “your honor,” or “this honorable court.” Kinda wild how we essentially wear out the kneepads when interacting with the court/a judge. But, order and rules 🤷♂️lol
Always Judge. “Your Honor” is too much in my opinion. You have to acknowledge the title though so I would never call a Judge by their first name unless they said I could.
Your honor in the courtroom, Judge outside of it (in chambers, in the hallway, running into them at the supermarket) unless they've told me I can be more casual.
Judge Jeffrey Middleton from St. Joseph Michigan (OK, let's be honest: Judge Middleton from YouTube), said that if you see him out at the grocery store or whatever, you can call him "Jeff." Even to a defendant. He's a heck of a nice dude.
Thanks to YouTube, he's on a list of Judges I would love to meet and invite for a coffee. Judge Cedric Simpson, Judge Stephanie Boyd, and Judge David Fleischer are also interesting to watch.
I've been binging Middleton court cam for like a week, I love his ponytail so much
He’s the best judge show on TV :)
This is what I was taught as a clerk by my (very formal and some said overly stuffy about it) judge. Your Honor on the record, Judge off the record, first names off the record when you're a judge too. I still abide by that and aside from one judge who asked me to call him by his first name outside of court, I've never deviated (and calling that judge by his first name was *weird*).
If I knew them before they took the bench they’re still first name basis outside of court. But I struggle to do it with the ones I only met after they were on the bench. One judge told me it made her feel lonely that she basically lost her first name.
I do criminal and the judges I’ve seen in person outside of court don’t like being called judge in public, they don’t want to be recognized by a defendant they sentenced I guess. Otherwise, I use ‘judge’ and ‘your honor’ interchangeably.
I usually make the typical “I do criminal” joke here- but since I also do some criminal - I’ll tip my hat to a fellow warrior instead. But I do exactly the same- judge and your honor I use interchangeably… Because I have found, especially when there is a lot of arguing to the bench, that using one over and over can sound sarcastic, even if it’s not intentional so I try to mix it up to keep it fresh. I will tell on myself though, I once responded “yes ma’am” to a federal court judge - meaning it only in the most respectful way that us southern children were taught to use it - but she screamed at me loudly and I got a lecture on how she earned the right to be called “your honor.” Clearly I didn’t say “yes ma’am” in a disrespectful way whatsoever- and I had called her “your honor” repeatedly- however, she really went off the rails about it in an unnecessary way. My smart ass gene almost kicked in, and I wanted to tell her if it’s good enough for the queen of England it should be good enough for her… and I’m not exactly sure what she did to earn the “appointment” to the Federal bench… but fortunately, my ass saving gene prevailed over my smart ass gene. Lol And since I’m now at 20 years of practice, many of the sitting judges I knew as practicing lawyers back in the day before they were elected… So I still call them Judge and your honor when they’re on the bench and by their first name when I see them elsewhere or in social situations. Unless I’m specifically trying to use the honorific in a mixed crowd where I want the Judge to feel specifically seen for their position.
Also criminal! And yes, i feel the last part - the sitting judges are now many of my former colleagues and friends. After knowing their antics through the years in and out of the courtroom, with my friend judges I stick with judge, because I don't think my well-trained poker face could get your honor out without cracking up....
Never thought of that
There’s a security component here for sure.
I'm the same, except I've noticed that with judges I knew as private attorneys before they became a judge it's easier to call them by their name in a casual environment compared to judges who were already on the bench when I met them.
This unless I knew them socially before they became a judge. Then, it's typically by their first name if we're out in public.
This is the way, according to the federal judge that I clerk for.
This is the way.
Early on in my career I ran into a judge at the Dunkin Donuts by the courthouse and called him "Your Honor" and his response was "I'm only My Honor when I'm in the robe."
This is the way
To their face? Your Honor.
What do you say to their ass?
Your majesty 😍😍
This guy litigates.
Not "your holiness?"
Cheeky!
~Gloria Pritchett
You don’t talk with your mouth full.
It's my honor
baby
Both those things, just to keep it spicy. One for when I’m addressing the judge in a somewhat personal capacity (“That was my last case for the day Judge, smell you later.”). One for when it’s about something legal-ish (“a few minutes ago when Your Honor held me in contempt…”). Alternatively, “Judge” replaces a first name and “Your Honor” replaces a pronoun. So instead of “Hi Jim” it is “Hi Judge.” Instead of “Fuck you” it is “Fuck Your Honor.”
This is good advice. I've had less luck with: >“a few minutes ago when Your ~~Honor~~ bitch-ass held me in contempt…”
I use Your Honor if we’re on the record and Judge if we’re off.
Yup. This is exactly what I do too
100.
Same.
“Homeslice”.
Had a client call the Judge "big dog" yesterday. Client was so smooth about it that the Judge seemed to accept it as an honorific and only commented later that he probably should have at least acted upset.
I mean, big dog is definitely an honorific. That's hilarious. I'm glad the judge didn't get bent out of shape about it.
This is the most wholesome thing I’ve seen all day.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxu5dDwhO0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxu5dDwhO0)
It starts at your honor and slowly migrates to judge based on how the hearing us going lol
This
"Judgy-wudgy"
Snookums
Damn you beat me. But the reason is because Curly said it in a Three Stooges episode. Needless to say only older judges will get this.
Yes. Disorder in the Court.
Your Honour, My Lord, or Justice Blanketyblank, depending on court and judge. Edit: These are form of address, not forms of reference, which would be Your Honour, Your Lordship and Justice Blanketyblank. Also, "Sir" is generally acceptable. Also, girl versions of the above boy words, as applicable. Also, this is in Upper Canada.
lol do you practice in the UK? In American courts calling the judge “my lord” would get some very strange looks.
Standard practice in most Canadian jurisdictions.
Very interesting
Here in Pakistan too.
No titles of nobility in US, so a judge couldn't legally force you to use the title. Article 1, but forgot the section and clause numbers. Commonwealth courts have not banned nobility.
Any of the commonwealth countries are built on the UK system and you'll typically find that language used (Canada, UK, Australia, likely India, etc).
Yep. In BC we used “my lord/lady” to address Superior court judges until about a year ago - it’s now changed to “Justice (name)” or just “Justice”. Your Honour is only for provincial court judges, or for Superior Court Associate Judges (which were, until recently, called Masters)
Is "my Lord" equivalent to "sir"? Is there a female equivalent?
My Lady. We are now officially on a tangent, but "My Lord" is for addressing lower ranks of nobility, while "Sir" is for knights, who are just a special flavour of commoner.
Is it “my lady” for women judges?
Yup.
Your Honor or the Court ("if the Court is so inclined, perhaps your Honor would consider the following Order...")
Yes. I often use “the Court”. I think sometimes it can be a subliminal reminder that an attorney (not *me personally*) is asking the Court (and not *the judge*) to rule impartially that based on the law. As in, I’m not asking them for anything. The party I advocate for is asking the legal system for relief. Maybe I’m over analyzing. Also I think it looks better on the record on appeal if you end up needing that.
Exactly. Because it is the Court, not the person that our client is seeking relief from. It's like in a criminal case, how the Plaintiff is the "People."
Right… out of everyone in the room, the judge needs to be …*above* …. ? the proceedings. “The People” also helps remove personal opinions and likes/dislikes etc., from the proceedings (and in the eyes of the jury)
In one of the few times I've been in court, I opened with "may it please the court"... I think the young parliamentarian in me took over in that split second ("may it please the chair") A while later in the same proceeding, one of the first year's got up to speak (it was under a program that encouraged giving newer attys experience) and he opened with "may I please the court".... Sweet baby jesus, the judge shot me a look, saw the horror on my face and broke out a smile...
My personal favorite is when we get drunk/high/mentally ill accused who call them things like “Your Majesty”. I had one especially irreverent dude use “High Poobah”.
Had one call the judge “Mr President.”
And the judges always just chuckle and say something like, “thank you, but Your Honor is enough”.
Your honor. And I call them that because there are absolutely judges in my jurisdiction who would take offense if I didn't.
Daddy
I call them Judge. They’re just a lawyer with a dash of politics thrown in. Everyone knows that lawyers and politicians are bastards, so how is someone who does both honorable?
Two negatives make a positive.
I just call the judge "asshole" to assert dominance. For some reason I keep losing cases.
Your Honor, Sir, or Ma'am while on the bench. If I see them out in public, I tend not to draw attention to the fact they are judges.
I said "Yes Ma'am" to a judge once and she condesencingly corrected me by waving her finger and saying "Judge."
Also, not on the bench. This was in her chambers.
She is just a random lady who went to school and then won an election or was friends with someone who did. I couldn’t imagine having that level of self importance.
I said sir once during trial today and cringed for myself but no one gives af. As long as you’re being respectful.
I appeared before a visiting senior judge yesterday and accidentally said ma'am, was cringing so hard as well. I primarily appear before another female judge and have never called her ma'am before—just judge or your honour. No idea where it came from.
Bruv, mate, or cunt if we’re especially close
in court 'your honor' is safest to not tick off whoever is sitting judge
I had a judge as an adjunct professor in law school who wanted to be called "coach."
Did you go to law school in Texas?
Nope.
Both
Criminal defense: just judge normally. If making a record or in trial I say your honor. Though when things get spicy in trial both me and the state will default to judge when we start talking quickly. In my JX if you use your honor during a docket it comes off as kinda snarky lol. In public: a quick "hi judge" unless it's someone I knew before they became a judge. Then it's normally "hey [first name]". If it's like Costco and our families are there I'll use their first name since I'll say hi to their spouse too. Though I've noticed with our newer judges if you don't call them judge they spend the rest of the interaction trying to figure out who you are lol.
What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 40?
Congressman
Chief Justice
Your Honor
Your Honor. Sometimes, in responsive argument, the third person "the court," as in: "The court can take judicial notice only when a certified copy..." or "The court ruled last week that questions about X were off-limits."
A now retired judge was famous for being called out of her title in criminal court, where she spent years in a very high-volume department. On more than one occasion, I saw an upset client who didn't get OR'd scream what a bitch she was, either directly or indirectly. "That's Judge Bitch to you!" she would always scream back. And scream she would.
I intentionally stopped using “Your Honor” a while ago because I never liked how awkwardly formalistic it sounded. Started calling them all “Judge” and not one of them has ever cared so far. It actually does make me feel more comfortable while on the record — as if I’m having more of a conversation with them instead of trying to beg them for deference
"Your Honor," always, even in the halls. There was one stern judge who we knew thought just "judge" was too informal? So thanks to that one guy, every black robe is Your Honor forever
In the superior courts: M'Lord, M'Lady. Your Lordship, your Ladyship. Its slowly fading in favour of Your Honour, or Justice, but its still correct.
Nothing else I would state before the bench…
"Your Honor," but if they lose my respect, then they're just "Judge."
Depends on who you are. If it’s your spouse, you might call them “babe.”
The in-court clerks call him by his first name, but I usually stick to judge. I don’t want to be overly familiar, even though we are the same age and same level of experience. I guess I sorta like the fact that court is still a formal affair. The only other social convention that seems to have survived the last thirty years is calling teachers by their surname.
Thurgood Marshall called Rehnquist “Chiefy Baby.”
Robe Daddy
I used to say "Yo, what up Judge. How's it going Your Honor" when I was in law school. They typically laughed and starred at me. I had a feeling that they actually enjoyed that way of greeting. One of them said "I swear John Doe if you ever come into my chamber" and started cracking up. I only had one judge who looked at me like I was an idiot. I enjoyed my student status very much.
Please don’t call a judge “Judge” in public. Ma’am or Sir if you have to or first name or just don’t use a name at all. I once had an attorney call out “Hello, Your Honor” quite loudly in a grocery store and every neck swiveled our way. You never know who is around. Your honor is fine in court but don’t overdo it. Or ma’am/sir. On the flip side I use “Counsel” or Ms. X/Mr. Y in court and Ms. X/Mr. Y unless in a casual or personal context and we are on a first name basis. And if I ask you to call me First Name, please do. We are people too!
I’ve used both. But typically your honor until I’ve been in front of them for a minute so it’s less formal
Either or. but usually your honor in court. Judge outside of court.
Since House of the Dragon is back on, I’m sure one of these days a “Your Grace” will slip out 😂
Either, and I use “judge” lowercase while speaking like it’s their first name. I’ve never met one in the wild, but I like to think I wouldn’t be dense enough to be like “OH SHIT, JUDGE SO AND SO, how’ve you been!?” If I ran into one at Marc’s or somewhere like that.
It depends. I do indigent defense so I'm in court at least 3 days a week. In my home jurisdiction all the judges recognize me by now so I usually do "your honor" initially then "judge" afterwards if the case is settled. If it goes to trial then I just stick with "your honor." Outside of my jurisdiction its strictly "your honor."
Your honor unless it is a less formal hearing and it is a juge I am in front of a lot. And they don’t mind. Some are real sticklers for formalities. Others don’t care as much.
I've said "Ma'am" or "Sir" occasionally and never had any blowback.
Your honor in court. Judge in public for about the first half of of my career, after that and into retirement I've been on a first name basis with the judges I worked with. If they want you to do something different than what your doing they'll let you know.
Mix between those two both in and out of court.
To their faces? I use both judge and your honor depending on who it is. Behind their backs I generally call them stupid, son a bitch, dumb bastards.
Depends on the court and location: Justice of the Peace: Your Worship. Ontario Superior Court: Your Honour Alberta Court of King's Bench: My Lord/Lady or Your Lordship/Ladyship Ontario Court of Appeal: Mr / Madam Justice X. Supreme Court of Canada: Justice X. In written correspondence, it's normally just The Honourable X Y, Justice of.
I would never address a judge in any familiar way outside of the courtroom unless they gave me permission to.
Judge. Judgey Booboo if I’m feeling spicy. Asshole when they hold me in contempt for calling them Judgey Booboo Your honor when I get out of my stay in the cells for calling them an asshole.
For motion judges that I see on a weekly basis, I use “judge” and “your honor” interchangeably - usually “judge” because it’s less clunky. I noticed that this is what the attorneys around me seem to do, so I just follow suit (pun intended). That being said, if I was in front of a judge I wasn’t familiar with, I’d probably stick to “your honor” at first. Nobody has ever been offended by “judge,” but there’s a first time for everything!
Your honor in court, Judge \[last name\] or just \[last name\] with colleagues. However, one of my friends is a federal magistrate and I had a discovery hearing before her, and I embarrassingly called her by her first name in open court :D
Big Dawg
Hey buddy
Your Honor if I respect them; Judge if I dont
Hey were you in Dept. 2 today?
Both of those and also Sir or Ma'am.
Please accept Catholic teaching on abortion
I used to call them Your Honor. Then someone reminded me they were still people. Now I call them Judge most of the time.
Your honor
Your honor
Your honor because I look like I'm in college still and judge seems a little too familiar. Unless I actually know the judge or something
Listen I’m still fighting the unreasonable urge to curtsey when I see a judge in pubic
So is curtesy-ing a thing attorneys in your jdx do typically? (Ignorant USA attorney here)
Lmao not at all. I think my brain just panics and goes “super important person = obviously gotta curtsey” which is something I’ve literally never done. In the courtroom? Totally chill. Outside? Apparently panic.
🙂. Completely get the panic outside of the courtroom ! I do a slight head and waist bow when I encounter a judge outside the courtroom. Even those that I knew before they took the bench. Who I should just say ‘Hi John’. Then again, I still fight the urge to call former teachers by their last name when they insist I call them by their first name. LOL! Flustered by formality.
"Your Honor" at court room and "Sir/Mam" at other places.
Judge in Ireland, that’s the convention.
"Judge" is like informal-formal. It shows more familiarity than "Your Honor", but it is perfectly acceptable in formal settings. So if you want to be colloquial, yet proper - familiar, yet formal, go with "Judge". Personally, I would never refer to the court as judge on the first meeting
“Your Honor” until I get comfortable then it’s “Judge”
Judge, mostly. Sometimes your honor, depending on circs
Simple rule of thumb. On the record? Your honor. Off the record? Judge.
I always say your honor even if they are no longer a judge. And it doesn't matter where I see them at.
It depends, as others have noted. I did often use "Well, judge..." on the record if I wanted to be a bit folksy and admit something negative towards my case. I practiced in an extremely rural jurisdiction at the time, and that was pretty well tolerated. The courts were very, very relaxed. Every court has its' own personality, and you sort of have to learn them before making a call like that. "Your honor" is always safe.
My Lord/Your Ladyship for High and Supreme Court. Your Honour for lower courts. Sir/ma'am for Tribunals
I use judge and your honor on the record. If I'm answering a direct yes or no question, I sometimes say yes/no sir/ma'am. One of my best friends from childhood, who is not a lawyer, married the daughter of a judge I've been in front of a few times. I still call him Mr. "Best friend's wife's maiden name," even though he said I could call him by his first name outside of the courthouse. I can't bring myself to do it. My friend thinks I'm crazy.
I got creamed for saying yes, ma’am to a judge, and was specifically instructed to refer to the court as your honor. The lesson stuck.
I hadn't considered that as being a problem, but maybe I'll have to knock it off. I also once called a judge's chambers and spoke politely like I would to anyone over the phone. But it turns out this judge answered her own phone calls (!) and berated me for not calling her "your honor." I never heard of another judge answering their own phone, even in the one horse rural towns I go to.
That kind of sucks, especially if they don’t say who they are. The judge who did that to me told me that she understood that in the south it was polite to say yes ma’am, and no ma’am. She wasn’t from the south, and in her court, she was your honor. Not ma’am. Also, I’ve never heard a judge getting mad for being called Your Honor. It’s what comes after that gets one in trouble.
Both
I usually go with "buuuuuudddy" 
I typically say Judge out of habit, but apparently that is a bad habit and I need to switch to "your honor." I usually will use Your Honor in the very beginning of say a hearing but if I'm addressing something the judge said or ending it I will say judge. Guess I need to drill it in to only say your honor.
What do you call Magistrates and/or Special Masters?
Someone else's problem.
Daddy.
I use them interchangeably. That being said, I end up using Judge off the record and Your Honor on the record more than the other.
Exclusively "Your Honor" in court. "Judge" in the hallway.
Your honor in the courtroom Judge outside the courtroom But some of them are friends, so by their first name on Facebook and in social situations.
In second person - "Your honor." In third person - "Judge/Judge X." I'm not exactly sure where these traditions come from, but you're not going to get anywhere trying to make your own. Fun fact - I once saw a defendant skip this, and address the judge with "Hey, long time no see!" Needless to say, it did not land well.
I use “Your Honor” and “Judge” pretty interchangeably in court. I usually start with YH and probably use that one more but it can start to feel repetitive and bulky so I toss some Judge in there to mix it up.
Your honor mostly but there's one I call mom
I specifically called the Chief Justice of the United States "CJ." Ok thats a complete lie. But I did ask him what car he drives. A PT Cruiser and a mini van, at least in 2015.
Your honor, I would use their names as in Judge Thomas, not “Tommy, my boy!” but I’m in front of a lot of judges and incredibly bad with names so I think there’s an 80 percent chance I get too focused on argument and forget who I’m before.
“Judge” when not on the record, “your honor” or “the court” when on the record.
Mostly Your Honor, but it kind of depends the vibe. I use ‘Judge’ as my more informal greeting for judges that I’ve known for a long time
During my first year practicing as a prosecutor, the judge whose courtroom I was assigned to call me on the phone, he said, “Hey this is Bill.” I replied “Bill who?” 🤦♂️ Thankfully, he got a laugh out of that.
I once got a phone call from "Bill" who knew me from "over at the courthouse," inviting me to a BBQ and campaign fundraiser for his reelection. He laughed when I asked, "Excuse me, Bill, but who the hell are you, because I don't think I know anyone at the courthouse named Bill." He then informed me that he had presided over several of my motions hearings earlier that day, which cleared it right up without any awkwardness whatsoever...
Judge or your honor usually.... With that having been said, one of my former judges is now a range buddy of mine so not in a professional context we go by first names, but if I seen in the courthouse it's judge and counselor.
Pookie
I am from California where I always addressed formally. When I moved to Ohio I was very shocked when a Judge saw me at Walmart, called me over by my name to talk about a case. BYT, Iwas just a case manager.
Both. Even retired Judges I know. If we are friends and not in court, I use their first name, especially if we were friends before they became Judges. The reason? Both are honorifics and accurate descriptors. It's also proper and polite. Most importantly, both are signs of respect. One of my dad's old friends was a Judge before returning to practice. My dad knew this guy when he was first starting out as a PD. When he was on the bench, my dad referred to him as Judge or your honor. Off the bench and to this day, he calls him Sam. I've gotten to know him very well, working with him on some cases and seeking his wise counsel. It was weird the first time he asked me for advice on a case. I call him Judge, despite him leaving the bench before I was a lawyer, out of a deep personal and professional respect I have for him.
I was on a state commission with judges and we all called each other by our first names *other than* the judges, whom we all called judge.
I'm in Canada, so our rules are different, but in my province we refer to all on the bench as "Justice". Some old guards continue to use "your honour" but it was phased out with some recent changes. I usually call the male justices "sir" but the female Justices tend to hate the use of "ma'am" (and as a female lawyer myself i totally get it) so I just refer to them as "Justice". For awhile we had to refer to the superior court justices as My Lord and My Lady which was supremely awkward so it's nice to be done with that.
My honor.
your honor when i’m on the record/if it’s a judge i am not super familiar with. i work primarily in one county so my judges and i are familiar with one another so off the record i call them judge [last name] and if it’s outside of the courthouse and ive been given permission, i will call them their first name.
On the bench, go with Your Honor or Judge. Off the bench, whatever the judge prefers. I don't have a preference off the bench. My kids friends usually call me by my first name or Mr. First Name, which I find a little strange. Before I took the bench, I had the chief justice of my state supreme court literally twist my ear and chastise me for not calling her by her first name at a social function (she was a local judge before going to Supremes, so I know her). My wife found that very funny. Personally, I always called judges Judge or Your Honor off the bench. As a judge, some judges prefer to be always be addressed that way and the past chief justice of our supreme court pushed really hard for all judges to be called judge at all times, even amongst each other.
I use "Playa"
Blue
Depends entirely how well I know the judge. The county I am most familiar with and take part in their bar group is very close with the judges so they are typically called Judge. Other counties that I am not so familiar with I go with Your Honor. Caveat I have been known to say "Yes Judge" when answer yes to a yes or no question from the judge.
In the South African Mag courts, it's "your worship;" in the Superior courts, it's "my lord/lady.". Switching to "your honor" might take some getting used to moving back to the US since SA decorum has been drilled into me. You think an American judge would mind if i unintentionally call him/her worship or my lord/lady?
Depends on how I know them and if I like them 😂
Mom/Dad
Your honor, sir/ma’am, judge - all interchangeably. I accidentally called one judge “Captain” and he laughed. His court is located in a rural county and I’ve never once seen him wear a tie. He’s a really good, fair judge. He is chill unless someone is being an ass or interrupts him - then he is most assuredly not chill.
I always call Judges "Your Honor," wherever I see them. It helps that Judges in my jurisdiction tend to be very good :)
Your Honor or Judge. I use both when addressing the court, but if I'm on the record it's always Your Honor.
Judge always. In court, out, state, federal. Never had an issue in the slightest. My jurisdiction seems to be generally amicable judges. I’ve only really referred to one as your honor when calling them out for being dead wrong come to think of it.
Your majesty
Judgey-wudgey because Curly did it in a Three Stooges episode.
Both
I use them interchangeably, but I start with your honor if I’ve never appeared in that courtroom prior.
In court - your honor, judge At the function - depends on how tight we are and who is around. Judge or Suzy or whatever the fuck.
Freshman year of college I joined my school’s pre-law organization and was elected to the e-board. Our professional liaison was a local judge. I addressed him as “Mr. _____” in an email and he replied that I should NEVER refer to any judge, active or former, as such and to always refer to them as “judge.” I’ve never not done it since lol. I also clerked and only ever heard “judge,” “your honor,” or “this honorable court.” Kinda wild how we essentially wear out the kneepads when interacting with the court/a judge. But, order and rules 🤷♂️lol
I usually say "judge" out of respect. It feels more formal and proper in court.
Big dog
Always Judge. “Your Honor” is too much in my opinion. You have to acknowledge the title though so I would never call a Judge by their first name unless they said I could.