What is a female judge called?

Asked by: Mallie Cummings  |  Last update: March 14, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (29 votes)

A female judge is called a Judge, a gender-neutral term, but in court, she is addressed formally as "Your Honour," "My Lady," or sometimes just "Judge," while "Justice [Last Name]" is used for higher courts like the Supreme Court. The specific title depends on the court level, but "Your Honour" is a safe bet for most, with some jurisdictions using "My Lady" or "Justice" for higher-ranking female judges.

What do they call a female judge?

I primarily appear before another female judge and have never called her ma'am before—just judge or your honour.

What is the proper way to address a female judge?

How to Address a Judge in Person. Whether you're in the courtroom or you run into the Judge elsewhere in the courthouse, it's important to address the judge correctly and respectfully. Avoid using sir or ma'am. Address a judge in person as “Your Honor” or “Judge [last name].” Don't simply say “judge.”

Is a female judge called your honor?

So, you say: “As Your Worship pleases.” 🥢In a Customary Court you say “Your Honour.” That's the official form of address for both male and female Presiding Officers in the Customary Court.

What is the feminine of judge?

There is no feminine word for judge. The word judge is a gender-neutral job title used for both men and women. A female judge is correctly called a judge.

Court Cam: Woman Curses at a Judge (Season 1) | A&E

28 related questions found

Who is a female judge in the Bible?

The story of Deborah is a highpoint, if not the highpoint, of the whole book of Judges. The cycle from 4:1–5:31 shows the unerring leadership of Israel's only female judge. Under the oppression of the Canaanites and their intimidating 900 “chariots of iron,” Deborah served as “judge” over Israel (4:4).

What names can you call a 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. Stop speaking if the judge begins to speak.

What should you never say to a judge?

You should not say anything sarcastic, interrupt the judge, lie, use slang, make personal attacks on others, guarantee outcomes, or speak about things not relevant to the case; instead, remain respectful, address the judge as "Your Honor," answer only the question asked, and be direct and truthful to maintain credibility. 

Can a woman be a judge?

In some High Courts, on an average, women are appointed as judges more than 3 years later than men. Justice B.V. Nagarathna is scheduled to become the first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027. Her tenure will be of 36 days.

Is it okay to call a judge sir or ma am?

🤯 Always address the judge correctly, not as 'sir' or 'ma'am,' but as "Your Honor." It's not just about formality, it's about respect and perception!

What is the name of the lady judge?

Currently, there is just one sitting woman judge out of the total 34 – Justice B. V. Nagarathna. Justice Nagarathna is also set to be the first female Chief Justice of India in September 2027, with a tenure of just 36 days, the third shortest in history.

What salutation do you use for a judge?

DO be respectful to the judge; address him or her as "Your Honor" or "Judge."

Is it lordship or ladyship?

“Lordship” can also be used in the UK as a polite and formal way of referring to a male peer without using his full title. For example, rather than saying “the Lord Voldemort of Slytherin is visiting London today”, one might say “His Lordship is visiting London today”. “Ladyship” is simply the female equivalent.

What is a slang word for judge?

beak (British, slang) The beak told him he'd go down if he did anything like it again.

How to address the female judge?

What do I call a Judge?

  1. Supreme Court and Court of Appeal: My Lord (male), My Lady (female); Your Lordship; Your Ladyship.
  2. Magistrate's Court: Your Honour.
  3. Correspondence: For the Judges at the Supreme Court- The Honourable Mr./Mrs./Ms. Justice Name of Judge (whether married or single) [In Address Line]; “Dear Judge.”

Who is the most famous female judge?

The most famous female judge is widely considered to be Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG), due to her trailblazing career on the U.S. Supreme Court, iconic status as a gender equality champion, and immense cultural impact, though other highly famous judges include Sandra Day O'Connor (first female SCOTUS justice) and Sonia Sotomayor (first Hispanic SCOTUS justice), while Judge Judy (Judy Sheindlin) is famous for her long-running reality court show.
 

What do I call a female judge?

The Honorable (full name) Dear Judge (surname): Name of Court. Address.

Why did God allow a female judge?

Deborah was Israel's only female judge. Some scholars have suggested that her position as judge was itself a judgment on the weak-willed men of Israel. Because Israel's men were unfit to judge, God chose a woman for the job, partly to shame the men who should have taken the leadership.

Who appointed more judges, Trump or Obama?

While President Obama appointed more judges overall (around 330-334) across his two terms compared to Donald Trump's single term (around 226-245), Trump appointed a higher proportion of powerful appellate court judges and more Supreme Court justices (three vs. Obama's two), significantly shifting the courts' ideological balance, especially the circuit courts. 

What annoys a judge?

Other judges said they dislike personal attacks, snide remarks, innuendo, or sarcasm. One judge said his or her biggest pet peeve is “the growing tendency to wax personal in responding to arguments.” Unorganized briefs.

What is the B word for lawyer?

The "B word" for a lawyer, especially in British and Commonwealth systems, is barrister, referring to a lawyer who specializes in courtroom advocacy, while solicitor is the other main branch for general legal advice and document preparation, contrasting with the American term attorney for any lawyer. A barrister is often called in by a solicitor to argue cases in higher courts.
 

What is the hardest case to win in court?

The hardest cases to win in court often involve high emotional stakes, complex evidence, or specific defenses like insanity, with sexual assault, crimes against children, and white-collar crimes frequently cited as challenging due to juror bias, weak physical evidence, or technical complexity. The insanity defense is notoriously difficult because it shifts the burden of proof and faces public skepticism. 

What do judges like to be called?

Judges from the High Court, Appeals Court, and Supreme Court are referred to as "Justice [Surname]". In social settings, it is appropriate to use "Judge" in all cases.

How to address a female judge in court?

#1 Addressing a Judge

When referring to them in court, you say, “his honor, or her honor, or the Court.” Formality is required when in a courtroom.

What does "juge" mean in law?

1. (a) One who tries cases and interprets the laws, a judge; (b) ~ man, a judge.