How Do You Address a Supreme Court Justice?
While Article 3 of the United States Constitution refers to the officials that would eventually sit on the U.S. Supreme Court as judges, the Court's first judges were referred to as justices, and that nomenclature has remained ever since. Indeed, in oral arguments before the Supreme Court, lawyers may be admonished if they address a justice as "judge."
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Instructions
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In Writing
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1
Address your letter or envelope according to the justice's rank on the court. For the chief justice, the address begins with: The Chief Justice of the United States, followed by the address of the Supreme Court.
For an associate justice, the address begins with: Justice (surname) followed by The Supreme Court of the United States, then the address of the Supreme Court.
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2
Begin your letter according to the appropriate rank of the justice. For the chief justice, the correct salutation is: Dear Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice.
For an associate justice, the proper salutation is: Dear Justice (surname).
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3
Maintain a formal style and use professional prose in the body of the letter. Make your point as succinctly as you can and use a formal closing such as "Sincerely" to end your letter.
In Conversation
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4
Address a justice according to rank on the court. The chief justice is addressed as Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice.
An associate justice is always addressed as Justice (surname).
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5
Introduce a justice according to rank. The chief justice is formally introduced as: The Chief Justice.
An associate justice is formally introduced as Justice (surname).
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6
Use the formal greetings of Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice and Justice (surname) even when you meet or speak to a justice outside of court or in an informal setting.
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Tips & Warnings
The use of Mr. or Madam before Chief Justice is optional.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit us supreme court image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
