United States State Officials
Questions & Answers, Frequently Asked Questions, and Blog

How Do I Address an Acting Governor?           
How Do I Address the Wife of a Governor?
How Do I Address the Wife of a Governor Who Uses      
     A Different Last Name Than Her Husband?      
How Do I Address a Lieutenant Governor ?      
How Do I Address the Wife of a Lieutenant Governor ?      
How Do I Address a State Cabinet Secretary?                     
Is a State Attorney General "the Honorable"?                     
How Do I Address a State Attorney General?                     
How Do I Address a State Legislator?                     

How Do I Address a Kentucky Colonel?          

How Do I Address a State Judge?        
How to Write a Name Badge for a Justice and a Judge?      
How Do I Address a Magistrate?         
How to Address a Clerk of a Circuit Court?         
How to Address a Friend of the Court?      

How to List an Elected Official in a Program?       
 

Looking for Joint Forms of Address? (Two Names in the Address)
Link to Q&A just on Joint Forms of Address

How Do I Address a Former (Non-Military) Official?
Link to Q&A just on Former Officials (e.g., government, non-military)

All about The Honorable
Link to Q&A just on officials in the U.S. addressed as The Honorable

How to Address a Kentucky Colonel #1?
     Greetings! I just wish to find out if the following is true:
     "In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, commissioned Kentucky Colonels are considered members of the Governor's Staff and his honorary aides-de-camp, and as such are entitled to the style of 'Honorable' as indicated on their commission certificates. The commission and letters patent granted by the Governor and Secretary of State bestowing the title of Kentucky Colonel refers to the honoree as 'Honorable First Name Last Name'."
     I was commissioned by the former Gov. Paul E. Patton in 2003, but it appears that no one knows if it is okay to use the "honorable" title. It would be great if you could clear some clouds for us and I'll submit the finding to the board of our order. Thanks.
           -- Not Colonel Sanders

Hi NCS:
    In protocol there are always local rules to which a community abides -- and as one explores adjacent realms, the "new rules" are those on which the different communities mutually agree.
    In Kentucky if a Kentucky governor says as an appointed office holder you are entitled to be addressed as "The Honorable (First Name) (Last Name)" -- you are entitled to be so addressed in Kentucky. 
    Outside Kentucky (this is the "exploring the adjacent realms" part), "The Honorable" is universally used to officially address those who are elected to public office, or who are appointed go their office by The President of the United States and approved by the U.S. Senate. So an elected mayor of any city in Kentucky would be officially addressed as "The Honorable" inside and outside of Kentucky, as would The U.S. Secretary of Defense.  But as a Kentucky Colonel you are not officially "The Honorable" in ... say ... Ohio or Tennessee.
    You write the appointment was to be "members of the Governor's Staff and his honorary aides-de-camp"  by a former governor. So what happen when he is out of office?   The rule is "if it's not a one-at-a-time position, you can keep on using the title" ... so the form of address would continue for the rest of your life.  
    Many organizations have honorary positions ... many universities give out honorary degrees -- similarly falling into the category of personal honors and distinctions.  An honorary doctorate is wonderful .... but is perhaps not pertinent if you are applying to join a university faculty.
    At The Protocol School of Washington we always laugh that there is no "protocol police" to make sure you are correctly addressed  -- but I those who share your interest in your office will honor you and address you as "The Honorable."
            -- Robert Hickey

Dear Wanda:
    If the clerk was elected to office then he or she is The Honorable. Address the letter:
         The Honorable (full name)
             Clerk of the Circuit Court
                 (Name of Court, e.g., 22nd Judicial Circuit of (State))
                      (Address)
   Open the letter with the salutation:
         Dear Mr./Ms. (Surname):
                           -- Robert Hickey

Dear Ms. Stanley:
    Magistrates in every jurisdiction I know of are "The Honorable."  They are judges of Magistrate Courts.
    A general magistrate is an attorney appointed by a judge to take testimony and recommend actions ... and is not a judge. "The Honorable" is used by those elected, those appointed to their positions by The President of the United States ... and by Judges however they become judges. I am unfamiliar with "general magistrates" ... I suggest you ask the "general magistrate" whether or not he or she is an "Honorable"  He or she will know.
    NOTE .... more correct than Honorable John Q. Smith ... would be ... The Honorable John Q. Smith.
               -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a State Cabinet Secretary?
    Can you please straighten my thinking out about name badges regarding state cabinet members for the governor?
    Would it be: Ms. Susan Simmons, Secretary of Commerce
     Or: Secretary Susan Simmons, Secretary of Commerce
    Your book mentions that name badges should follow rules of place cards and place cards should state a name as in a conversation...
    One would address Sec. Simmons as such ... not Ms. Simmons... correct?  But it doesn't look right...I am confused.  My event is this week ... yikes.
                -- Jeane DeGrothy

Dear Ms. DeGrothy:
    Name badges usually do tell the other person what the person wearing the name badge should be called ... but in this case I think you want to also identify the dignitary so everyone knows the position this person holds.
    As a State Cabinet member, Susan Simmons is (see page 169-170 of my book) addressed as Madame Secretary most formally in conversation and less formally as Secretary Simmons.
    Ms. Susan Simmons is never correct for a Cabinet member.
    So the option I'd like best on the name badge would be:

    That appears on page 170, 6th line down. That's form is "correct" ... and it provides enough information for someone to figure out her name and her position.
               -- Robert Hickey

How Do I Address an Acting Governor?
    We don't have a Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey. When the Governor is away we have an Acting Governor.
    How do you go about introducing an Acting Governor? How about a former Acting Governor?
    Is the Acting Governor only the Acting Goveror when the elected Governor is out of state? Or is h or she introduced as an Acting Governor all the time?
                        -- FG, New Jersey
 
Hi FG in New Jersey:
    The role of Acting Governor is filled by the President of the New Jersey Senate.
    He or she is the Acting Governor when the elected Governor is out of state or incapacitated. New Jersey doesn't have the electe office "Lieutenant Governor" like many states do ... but beginning in 2010 that will change and there will be a Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey.
    When introducing the President of the Senate as the Acting Governor say: “May I present the Honorable (full name), Acting Governor of New Jersey.”
    Don’t directly address an Acting Governor as "Governor (name)". The rule is "address by rank, identify by office" -- so address as "Senator (name)" and identify as the Acting Governor.
    While he or she is not directly addressed as "Acting Governor (name)" one might refer to him or her as that in the third person. "Acting Governor (name) will be arriving in 20 minutes."
    A former Acting Governor is not addressed as such either ... because Acting Governor is a role ... not an office.  But you could note that the individual served as the acting governor at some point. "It is my pleasure to introduce The Honorable (full name), former President of the New Jersey Senate. Senator (last name) served as Acting Governor of New Jersey on numerous occasions during the (name of the elected Governor) administration.
                        -- Robert Hickey

How to Address the Wife of a Governor?    
   I am writing a letter to the wife of the governor of my state.  Do I address her in the salutation as Dear Mrs. Jindal: or is there another title I should use?  I am inviting her to an event at my school, and I want to make sure I use the correct language in the letter.  Thanks for your help.
     -- Sarah Elizer, Parkview Baptist School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Dear Ms. Elizer,
    Yes ... she is addressed in a salutation most correctly as Dear Mrs. Jindal:  
    Look at the form I give for the First Lady of the United States ... you can modify it.
    You don't use her first name ... at the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, there is only one Mrs. Jindal.
    When she visits your school have everyone address her as Mrs. Jindal.
    Then, when you introduce her the assembled students say ....
        May I present Supriya Jindel, wife of the Governor of the State of Louisiana.
    You can ask if she likes to called the "First Lady of Louisiana" ... if she does (Maria Shriver in California likes First Lady of...) ... then you could say ...
        May I present Supriya Jindel, First Lady of the State of Louisiana.
    Reason for using "State of Louisiana"? It's a bit more formal than saying just "Louisiana."
         -- Robert Hickey

How Do I Address the Wife of a Governor Who Uses A Different Last Name than her Husband?
Thanks for your informative web site, which I visited via Google. I couldn't find an answer to my question" -- that of how to address a letter to Maria Shriver. I am not sure what the protocol is for a governor's wife, and, in this case, a governor's wife who, I believe, uses her maiden name. I'm stuck!?
    --- G. Persis

Dear Ms. Persis:
    Maria Shriver presents herself as Maria Shriver: she established herself professionally with that name prior to marriage, and has not chosen as First Lady to be Mrs. Arnold Schwarzenegger. So normally I would address a letter to her as:
        Ms. Maria Shriver
             State Capitol Building
                Sacramento, CA 95814
    However, the state website (http://www.firstlady.ca.gov/contact/ ) says letters should be addressed to:
        First Lady Maria Shriver
            State Capitol Building
                Sacramento, CA 95814
     The site is using First Lady as an honorific like Mayor, Bishop, Captain or Dr.   "First Lady" isn't typically or traditionally an honorific. Recent First Ladies in Washington have requested to be introduced as First Lady Laura Bush or First Lady Hilary Clinton ... but these are forms for an introduction .... not as a written form of direct address.
     But back to California .... in spite of the fact that First Lady Maria Shriver is unusual, you should address your letter to First Lady Maria Shriver as the website suggests, because it's courteous to follow the preference of the individual.
    Write the salutation: Dear Ms. Shriver.
    And close with: Sincerely,.
                          -- Robert Hickey

How Do I Address a Judge?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
I have been asked to write a letter to a judge. Having been out of school a while, my skill is very rusty. Specifically, I need to know the salutation, how to address him in the body of the letter, and an appropriate closing with respect to his status.
    --- Roger Faust

Dear Mr. Faust:
    Address the envelope to the Judge as The Honorable (Full name).
    In the letter's address block use The Honorable (Full name).
    The salutation is Dear Judge (Surname):
    An appropriate closing would be Sincerely,
          -- Robert Hickey

How to Write a Name Badge for a Justice and a Judge?
Mr. Hickey,
       When preparing name badges how do you distinguish between Supreme Court Justices and County Judges; is using Honorable for both correct?
-- Marianne Wood

Dear Ms. Wood,
    On a name badge, write what one should call the person wearing the badge.
    A name badge for a justice of a Supreme Court of a state would be Justice (name).
    A county judge would be Judge (name).
    For where I’ve note (name) above, use either (full name) or (surname) to match the style of all the other name badges you are writing.
-- Robert Hickey

How to Do You Address a Friend of the Court?
    How do you address the Friend of the Court?
                  -- Tom
Dear Tom:
    A Friend of the Court is a role, not an official office like an elected or appointed judge, sheriff, or member of a city council  ... all of which get special forms of address.
    Address using the formula for a private citizen: (Appropriate honorific) + (Their name) and simply then identify by (office) when identification is appropriate.
    Friend of the Court wouldn't be used before the name as an honorific.
    For example:
        In conversation: Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr./Pastor/etc. (name)
        In an introduction: Judge Wilson, may I present Mr./Ms./Dr./Pastor/etc. (name), who is a Friend of the Court ...
             -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a State Attorney General?    
   I am told that we should address our state attorney general as "General".  However, I think the derivation of the term "attorney general" is that this office is the attorney for the general populace/constituency rather than an attorney for a specific group or person, and that the rank of the office is not a "general" in the military sense.
        -- GB in Salt Lake

Dear AS:
    The person who told you that doesn't know what's correct!  Addressing an attorney general as "General (Name)" is just wacky.
         Mister/Madam Attorney General .... yes
         Mr./Ms. (surname) .... yes
    You might hear an attorney general referred to as Attorney General (Name) in the media, but that's a phrase to identify him in a news story, not a direct form of address.
         -- Robert Hickey

Is a State Attorney General "the Honorable"?    
   I am writing a letter to the State Attorney General. I noticed on your website that you address the US Attorney General as the Honorable. Do you do the same for the State Attorney General?
        -- Vincent Hall

Dear Mr. Hall:   
   Yes ... High officials appointed by governors of the US states are also addressed as "the Honorable."
         -- Robert Hickey

How to Address State Legislators?
    Are state senators and state congressmen addressed as "the Honorable"?
         -- PJ in Lincoln Nebraska

Dear PJ:
     Yes ... anyone elected to a state legislature is addressed as The Honorable (full name).
                    -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Lieutenant Governor?    
   It has been said the Lieutenant Governor of a US state should be addressed as Governor just as a Lt. Colonel is addressed as Colonel.  People want to address the Lt. Gov. with the whole title of "Lieutenant Governor", however, that is very cumbersome.  Or should the person address simply be, "Mr. Jones"?
        -- Wondering

Dear Wondering:
    Addressing a lieutenant governor as Governor (name) is really going to displease the governor of your state.  Vice president's aren't addresses as President because it shorter.  Lieutenant governors don't have a special honorific for their office. Simply address him or her as Mr./Ms./etc. (name) ... and identify as the Lieutenant Governor of (state) as necessary.
    You might hear the Lieutenant Governor referred to as  "Lieutenant Governor Herbert" or "Lieutenant Governor Bell" in the media, but these are phrases used to identify these officials in a news story, not a direct forms of address.
         -- Robert Hickey

Is the Wife of a Lieutenant Governor a "Second Lady"?
      Is there an official guideline in print somewhere that states we are to address the wife of a Lt. Governor as second lady.  I have not found anything that refers to this or gives that title to a LT. Governor’s spouse.  Any information would be greatly appreciated.
        -- Diane

Dear Diane:
     I see the spouses of many officials informally described as a First Lady to define who they are.  But it's not a form of address. The wife of a lieutenant governor is most formally Mrs. (Surname), wife of the Lieutenant Governor of (Name of State). There is no title.
    The only spouses of government officials I know of having official special forms of address are (1) the spouse of the Queen's representative to a Commonwealth realm ... addressed as His/Her Excellency Mrs. (Husband's full name) in writing and in Your Excellency conversation ... and (2) the spouse of the Queen's representative to a province ... addressed as His/Her Honor (full name) in writing and in Your Honor conversation.
    On the website of the "First Lady of California" ... Maria Shriver is referred to her as First Lady Maria Shriver ... but that's not a form of address .... it's descriptive of who she is.  If you actually meet her ... call her Ms. Shriver (since she's stated she prefers Shriver than to being addressed as Mrs. Schwarzenegger.)
    Even "First Lady of the United States" is not an office. When the wife of The President attends events as The President's representative she is granted his precedence, but she has no official precedence.
    I've seen "First Lady" used as an honorific at some African-American churches where they address the spouse of their pastor First Lady (Surname). But using "First Lady" as an honorific is not the tradition at the White House or with other political spouses. Michelle Obama is correctly addressed as Mrs. Obama.
                     -- Robert Hickey

How to List an Elected Official in a Program?    
   How does one list the governor or the mayor in a program for an event at which they will be speaking?
           -- Susan in Honolulu

Dear Susan:
    Use this formula:
         1) list by name
         2) identify by office