Law Weblog

Addressing the Judges to change in Ireland and India

In the Republic of Ireland judges will no longer be referred to as “My Lord” or “Your Lordship”. Judges will now be referred to as simply “Judge”.  Referring to judges as “lords” is thought to be old fashioned and obsolete in a republican democratic state.

In India they have shed their wigs and now they have renounced “lordship” as a title. Indian judiciary wishes rid itself of colonial tag it acquired from the British Raj; “Lord” is thought to be a relic of slavery.
According to a resolution adopted by the Bar Council of India – a body of nearly one million lawyers – the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts will be addressed as “Your Honour” or “Hon’ble Court”.