Puisne judge

Puisne judge and puisne justice (Template:IPAc-en) are terms for an ordinary judge or a judge of lesser rank of a particular court. The term comes from a combination of the two French words, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (since, later) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (born) which have been combined as Template:Langx or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; meaning "junior".<ref>Template:Cite American Heritage Dictionary</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite dictionary</ref>

Use

The term is used almost exclusively in common law jurisdictions: the jurisdiction of England and Wales within the United Kingdom; Australia, including its states and territories; Canada, including its provinces and territories; India, including its states and territories; Pakistan, its provinces, and Azad Kashmir; the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar; Kenya; Sri Lanka; South Africa in rural provinces and Hong Kong. In Australia, the most senior judge after a chief justice in superior state courts is referred to as the "senior puisne judge".<ref name="aus">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Use is rare outside of, usually internal, court (judicial) procedural decisions as to which Template:Not a typo will sit or has sat in hearings or appeals. The term is dated in detailed, academic case law analyses and, to varying degree direct applicability in higher courts.<ref name=aus/>Template:Failed verificationTemplate:Citation needed

The term excludes the court's chief Template:Not a typo/Template:Not a typo; any seniormost judges, often specialists or a managerial head, sitting ex officio (by virtue of their office) as such in the court for which they have duties below; and any technically junior judges who may have been called to serve in a higher court, whom law reports and transcripts customarily specify as "sitting in" a judicial panel of a higher court or "sitting as" a judge of that court.

By jurisdiction

Bermuda

In Bermuda, the Supreme Court comprises the Chief Justice and a number of puisne judges.<ref>Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, section 73(2)</ref> As of January 2020, there are three puisne judges, with a vacancy for a fourth.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> New puisne judges are appointed by the Governor following a consultation with the Chief Justice.<ref>Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, section 73(4)</ref>

Canada

In Canada judges other than the chief justice of a court are referred to as puisne judges.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Fiji

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Gibraltar

In Gibraltar, puisne judges, of which there must be at least one, are responsible for family law proceedings in the Supreme Court.<ref>Supreme Court Act, section 12A(1)</ref>

Jamaica

In Jamaica, the Supreme Court comprises the Chief Justice, and between 25 and 41 puisne judges, one of whom is designated the Senior Puisne Judge.<ref>Judicature (Supreme Court) Act, section 5(1)</ref>

Mauritius

In Mauritius, the Supreme Court comprises the Chief Justice, the Senior Puisne Judge, and 20 other puisne judges.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

United Kingdom

England and Wales

In England and Wales, judges of the High Court are referred to as puisne judges, unless the judge in question holds a specific title, such as Lord Chief Justice.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Puisne judges must have at least seven years' experience as a barrister, or at least two years' experience as a circuit judge.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The maximum number of puisne judges permitted in England and Wales at any one time is the full-time equivalent of 108.<ref>Senior Courts Act 1981, section 4(1)(e) (as amended)</ref>

Puisne judges are styled as The Honourable Mr/Mrs/Ms Justice [surname].<ref name=":0" />

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, judges of the High Court are referred to as puisne judges, with the exception of the Lord Chief Justice.<ref>Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, section 2(1)</ref> The maximum number of puisne judges permitted in Northern Ireland at any one time is 15.<ref>The Maximum Number of Judges Order (Northern Ireland) 2020, article 2</ref>

Puisne judges are styled as The Honourable Mr/Mrs/Madam Justice [surname].<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Puisne

External links

• Puisne Judge's Office (archived 19 April 2015)
• Puisne judges of the Bombay High Court (archived 12 December 2010)