Government Commissioner
Call them “Commissioner” when you see them in person. Don’t worry about any special honorifics when you’re in the middle of a conversation, like “The Honorable.” Use the prefix “Commissioner” and the person’s surname when you speak with them. For instance, you can say something like, “Hello, Commissioner Brown! How are you today?” If you’re talking about them in conversation, you’d say something like, “Commissioner Hall will be here shortly.”
Fill out an envelope with “The Honorable” if they were elected. List out their full name, their position as Commissioner, and the organization or agency they preside over. Then, list out their full address. For instance, you can write something like:The Honorable Glenn WilliamsCommissionerAdministration for Community Living300 Main StreetNew York, NY 12345
Use “Mr./Ms./Dr.” if the Commissioner is appointed. Unless the person was appointed by a very powerful person, like a president, governor, or other well-established leader, you don’t need to use “The Honorable” when filling out their address. Instead, list them with regular, civilian prefixes, along with their position and the agency that they work for. For example, you’d write something like:Dr. Bailey TheoCommissionerAdvisory Council on Historic Preservation300 Main StreetNew York, NY 12345
Write “Dear Commissioner” and their last name as a salutation. Don’t stress about sounding too formal or casual—with letter headers, “Dear” works perfectly fine as a salutation. Use “Commissioner” and their last name, and skip over their first name altogether. For instance, you could start a letter with: “Dear Commissioner Wolsek.”
List the Commissioner first and their spouse second on an envelope. Follow the same rules for addressing envelopes, but use a regular prefix for the Commissioner’s spouse. Then, write out the address as you normally would. For instance, you’d address an elected Commissioner and their spouse as:The Honorable Charlie Davenport and Mrs. Davenport20 Oak LaneChicago, IL 12345 The mailing address for an appointed Commissioner would look like:Mr. Anthony Baker and Mrs. Caitlin Baker2000 Axel LaneWashington, DC 12345
Court Commissioner
Call them “Judge” if they’re an elected or appointed official. Court Commissioners are essentially judges, and can be addressed as such. Just use the prefix “Judge” along with their last name whenever you speak to them. For example, you can say something like, “Hello, Judge Brooks! It’s great to see you today.”
Refer to them as “Your Honor” if you’re in court where they’re presiding. Play by the courtroom rules in a professional setting. Don’t worry about official titles—“Your Honor” works just fine, and is the usual protocol in a courtroom. If a Court Commissioner is only visiting a courtroom but not leading the court proceedings, you don’t need to call them “Your Honor.” Don’t use “sir” or “ma’am” in the courtroom—this is considered impolite.
Use “The Honorable” as a prefix when addressing an envelope. List out the Court Commissioner’s full name, along with the court they preside over. Then, finish with the address. For example, you could write something like:The Honorable Elizabeth A. CarnegieStafford County Courthouse340 Main StreetStafford, VA 12345
Write “Commissioner” and their last name in a letter salutation. List out the person’s title and then their last name. Don’t worry about first names for your correspondence, since they aren’t necessary. For example, “Dear Commissioner Haverford” would be a good letter or email salutation.
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