To address a Supreme Court Justice correctly, use “Justice [Surname]” for any of the eight Associate Justices and “Chief Justice” for the head of the Court, both in letters and in conversation. During oral argument, every Justice is “Your Honor.” In legal filings, the abbreviations are “J.” and “C.J.” The rules shift a little between the courtroom, a letter, and a dinner, but the core forms are short and consistent.
Writing a Letter to a Justice
All mail to the Court goes to one address:1Supreme Court of the United States. Contact Us
Supreme Court of the United States
1 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20543
What changes between Justices is the first line of the address block and the salutation.
The Chief Justice
The envelope reads:
The Chief Justice of the United States
The Supreme Court
One First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20543
The salutation is “Dear Mr. Chief Justice:” or “Dear Madam Chief Justice:” depending on the officeholder. The formal title is “Chief Justice of the United States,” not “Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.” That distinction matters in formal correspondence.
Associate Justices
For any of the other eight members, the address block reads:
Justice [Surname]
The Supreme Court
One First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20543
The salutation is “Dear Justice [Surname]:” No first name, and no “Associate” in the greeting.
Speaking to a Justice in Court
The verbal protocols during oral argument are rigid and universally followed. An attorney opens by saying “Mr. Chief Justice, and may it please the Court,” then begins the argument.2Supreme Court Historical Society. How the Court Works – Oral Argument
When a Justice interrupts with a question, address them as “Your Honor.” Responses typically begin with a direct answer: “Yes, Your Honor” or “No, Your Honor,” followed by the explanation. “Your Honor” applies to every Justice equally, whether the Chief Justice or the most junior Associate.
Speaking to a Justice Outside the Courtroom
At a dinner, lecture, or public event, address a Justice as “Justice [Surname]” in conversation. “Your Honor” and the full “Mr. Chief Justice” are not needed in social settings, but first names are out of bounds unless the Justice invites it.
When introducing a Justice to someone else, lead with the title: “I’d like to introduce Justice [Surname].” Spouses of Justices hold no judicial title of their own and are addressed as Mr. or Ms. [Surname].
Retired Justices
The title stays with the person for life. A retired member of the Court is still called “Justice [Surname]” in conversation and correspondence, and the salutation in a letter remains “Dear Justice [Surname]:”
The envelope format shifts:
The Honorable [Full Name]
Justice, Supreme Court of the United States (Retired)
Some retired Justices take senior status under federal law, which lets them continue handling limited judicial work, typically by sitting on lower federal courts by designation, while receiving their full salary.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 371 – Retirement on Salary; Retirement in Senior Status Others retire outright. The form of address is the same either way.
Referring to Justices in Legal Documents
Legal briefs follow a different convention than letters. When citing a Justice’s opinion, use the surname followed by “J.” — for example, “Kagan, J., dissenting.” For the Chief Justice, the abbreviation is “C.J.” For multiple Justices in a parenthetical, use “JJ.”
In the body text of a brief, as opposed to a citation parenthetical, write “Justice [Surname]” or “Chief Justice [Surname]” without abbreviation. Using the full title reads more naturally in a document meant for the Court itself.
Where Filings Actually Go
Do not send legal filings directly to a Justice. Every petition, brief, motion, or application goes through the Clerk’s office. Even an application addressed to a specific Justice gets filed with the Clerk, who then transmits it. The Clerk has authority to reject any filing that does not comply with the Court’s rules.4Supreme Court of the United States. Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States – Rule 1
When writing a cover letter to accompany a filing, address it to the Clerk of the Court. “Dear Clerk:” is standard and appears in actual filings on the Court’s docket.5Supreme Court of the United States. Cover Letter to Clerk Send it to the same One First Street address.
What You Should Not Write About
The Court’s Code of Conduct prohibits Justices from considering private communications about pending or upcoming cases made outside the presence of the parties and their lawyers. If a Justice receives such a communication, they must notify the parties and let them respond.6Supreme Court of the United States. Code of Conduct for Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States
Writing a letter urging a Justice to rule a certain way in a pending case creates an ethical problem for the recipient. The proper channel for expressing a view on a pending case is an amicus curiae brief, which has its own filing requirements and becomes part of the public record. General correspondence that does not touch on specific cases, such as thanking a Justice for a speech, does not raise the same concern, but those letters should still go through the Clerk’s office.