Security note: For security reasons it is essential that correspondence to Judiciary - whether serving or retired at their private addresses should omit all reference to their Judicial rank. Plain or double envelopes must be used.
The tables below show you how to address Scottish Judges and members of the Bar verbally and in writing.
Senior Judges
The Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General is a Privy Counsellor and usually a Peer. In normal correspondence the office-holder is addressed as Lord President of the Court of Session – the two titles are not usually combined. The office-holder should be addressed as follows:
| Division | Address (in correspondence) | Dear... |
|---|---|---|
|
Civil (If a Peer) |
The Right Honourable The Lord Doe Lord President of the Court of Session |
Lord President |
| Criminal (If a Peer) |
The Right Honourable The Lord Doe Lord Justice General |
Lord Justice General |
| If not a Peer |
The Right Honourable Lord Doe Lord President of the Court of Session |
Lord President |
| Retired | The Right Honourable (The) Lord Doe | Lord Doe |
| Office/Position | Address (in correspondence) | Dear... |
|---|---|---|
|
Lord Justice Clerk When not a Privy Counsellor |
The Honourable Lord Doe Lord Justice Clerk |
Lord Justice Clerk |
|
When he/she is a Privy Counsellor [Note: The Practice is to confer Privy Councillor status on the Lord Justice Clerk] |
The Right Honourable Lord Doe Lord Justice Clerk |
Lord Justice Clerk |
| Retired | The Honourable Lord Doe | Lord Doe |
Judges
Judges of the Court of Session are all Senators of the College of Justice in Scotland and have the courtesy style and title of "Lord" or "Lady" (which should be distinguished from a peerage title) and also the prefix "Honourable". Some Lords of Session (often former Lords Advocate) are however Peers. They should be addressed as follows:
| Office/position | Address (in correspondence) | Dear... |
|---|---|---|
| Male: When not a Privy Counsellor | The Honourable Lord Doe | Lord Doe |
| Male: Privy Counsellor | The Right Honourable Lord Doe | Lord Doe |
| Male: Privy Counsellor and Peer | The Right Honourable The Lord Doe | Lord Doe |
| Male: Retired | The Honourable Lord Doe, or The Right Honourable (The) Lord Doe (as the case may be) | Lord Doe |
| Wife of current or retired judge | Lady Doe | Lady Doe |
| Female: Not a Privy Counsellor | The Honourable Lady Doe | Lady Doe |
| Female: Privy Counsellor | The Right Honourable Lady Doe | Lady Doe |
| Female: Privy Counsellor and Peer |
The Right Honourable The Lady Doe |
Lady Doe |
| Female: Retired | The Honourable Lady Doe, or The Right Honourable Lady Doe (as the case may be) | Lady Doe |
| Husband of current or retired judge | No title | |
Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
The Chairman is addressed in the same way as a judge of the Court of Session.
| Address (in correspondence) | Dear... |
|---|---|
|
The Honourable Lord Doe |
Lord Doe |
| In retirement | As for judge of Court of Session |
The Shrieval Bench
| Address (in correspondence) | Dear... |
|---|---|
|
Sheriff - Principal John Doe (QC should be added where applicable) |
Sheriff Principal Doe |
| Sheriff John Doe | Sheriff Doe |
| In retirement | No title |
The Bar/Use of QC
The description of Scottish Advocates is exactly the same as for the English Barristers:
| Address (in correspondence) | Dear... |
|---|---|
| Members of the Bar - no special form of address | Usual titles in their private capacities |
| Queen's counsel |
John Doe Esq. QC (when the Sovereign is a King - John Doe Esq. KC) |
| QC/KC appointed as a Judge of the Court of Session | Never use QC/KC |