What do you call a judge after they retire?

Asked by: Adelle Walsh  |  Last update: October 1, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (47 votes)

In practice, when a circuit or district judge on senior status sits on an inferior court case, the judge is referred to as "Senior Judge" in the opinion, while a retired justice is referred to as "Associate Justice" when doing so.

What is the title of a retired judge?

Any judge of the United States who has retired from regular active service under section 371(b) or 372(a) of this title shall be known and designated as a senior judge and may continue to perform such judicial duties as he is willing and able to undertake, when designated and assigned as provided in subsections (c) and ...

How to indicate judge is retired?

For cases assigned to a judge who is no longer active or has retired from the Court, filers should continue to file all documents using the same case number and inactive or retired judge's initials.

Is a retired judge still called your honor?

Ethics opinions advise that a former judge who returns to the practice of law may not use a title such as “Judge,” “Honorable,” or “Hon.,” even modified by “Former,” “Retired,” or “Ret.,” in conjunction with his practice, including mediation or arbitration.

What is senior status for a judge?

Code, Section 371(c). Beginning at age 65, a judge may retire at his or her current salary or take senior status after performing 15 years of active service as an Article III judge (65+15 = 80).

CALE - Should Retired Judges Be Allowed To Practice Law?

25 related questions found

What happens when a judge retires?

When that occurs, those dockets are assigned to a new judge. In some instances, the retiring judge may come back on recall and the cases that the judge presided over during their time on the bench will be reassigned to them for post judgment matters.

Is judge a title for life?

They are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The Constitution gives federal judges life tenure, and they hold their seats until they die, resign, or are removed from office through impeachment.

Should I say judge or your honor?

In person: In an interview, social event, or in court, address a judge as “Your Honor” or “Judge [last name].” If you are more familiar with the judge, you may call her just “Judge.” In any context, avoid “Sir” or “Ma'am.”

Can a retired judge still practice law?

In the US, yes. Judges usually have experience as lawyers. Retired judges going back to law practice is especially likely where judges are elected. A judge that loses an election will often practice law.

Do you call a judge honorable?

In legal contexts, they are referred to as "His/Her Honour" and "the Honourable Justice Surname" (for judges of superior courts) or "his/her Honour Judge Surname" (for inferior courts). Outside legal contexts, the formal terms of address are "Judge" (for puisne justices) or "Chief Justice" (for chief justices).

What does retired mean in court?

Understanding Retirement as a Legal Concept

Retirement, as defined by the law, encompasses two distinct aspects. Firstly, it refers to the voluntary fulfillment of an obligation or payment of a debt. Secondly, it involves the act of giving up one's work, position, or professional activities.

What is the title of The Honorable?

In the United States, government officials who have been elected to public office or are appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate are afford the courtesy title of The Honorable.

Who can replace a judge?

The attorney representing you in your criminal or civil case can file the motion to request a new judge.

What is the highest judge title?

Nine Justices make up the current Supreme Court: one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. The Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr., is the 17th Chief Justice of the United States, and there have been 104 Associate Justices in the Court's history.

What is a retired justice?

Judges who leave office and receive their monetary credits are considered "retired judges" for purposes of a concurrent retirement as provided by Government Code section 75528 and 20639; and are eligible for health benefits under Government Code section 22814; and for the Assigned Judges Program administered by the ...

Do you call a retired judge honorable?

A lawyer who is a retired or former judge or magistrate may use a title such as 'justice,' 'judge,' 'magistrate,' 'Honorable' or 'Hon.

Do judges make more than lawyers?

Additionally, a judge has an average salary of $123,457, which is higher than the $115,808 average annual salary of a lawyer. The top three skills for a judge include legal issues, civil law and international law. The most important skills for a lawyer are litigation, law firm, and legal issues.

Can you sue a judge after they retire?

If you want to sue for anything the judge did in the course of their work as a judge, no, you can't.

What should you not say to a judge?

Here are five things all defendants will want to avoid saying to a criminal judge:
  • 'I Did It. ' ...
  • 'They Didn't Tell Me...' ...
  • Expletives. ...
  • Lies, Lies, Lies. ...
  • 'I Will Represent Myself.

Why can't you chew gum in court?

Neither snacks nor beverages are allowed in the courtroom. Even chewing gum can be seen as a sign of disrespect, especially while speaking to the Judge. Make sure you wake up early enough before your court appointment to have breakfast and coffee, so that you'll be alert and able to focus.

Do you call an alj your honor?

Although ALJs are technically executive branch employees, they function a lot like trial judges do in the judicial branch. You even call them 'Your Honor'. Other federal agencies utilizing ALJs include the Coast Guard, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

What do you call a female judge?

Address the judge only as “your honor” when addressing the judge in the courtroom. Refer to the judge as “the Court”, “his honor,” or “her honor” if you need to refer to the judge while addressing a witness or the jury.

What is higher than a judge?

The Supreme Court is the state's highest court. It can review cases decided by the Courts of Appeal. Also, certain kinds of cases go directly to the Supreme Court and are not heard first in a Court of Appeal, such as: Death penalty appeals, and. Disciplinary cases involving judges.

Why do judges wear black robes?

It is said that the black robe tradition started in England with the multi-year mourning of the death of Queen Mary II in 1694. In the federal system and in 49 states, the robe is black. The one outlier is the highest court of Maryland - the Maryland Court of Appeals - where the Justices wear red robes.