Puisne judge

 ( Judges ) 

Puisne judge and puisne justice () 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, puis (since, later) and né (born) which have been combined as or puîné; meaning "junior".

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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".

Use is rare outside of, usually internal, court (judicial) procedural decisions as to which 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.

The term excludes the court's chief /; 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 and transcripts customarily specify as "sitting in" a judicial panel of a higher court or "sitting as" a judge of that court.

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By jurisdiction

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Bermuda In Bermuda, the Supreme Court comprises the Chief Justice and a number of puisne judges.Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, section 73(2) As of January 2020, there are three puisne judges, with a vacancy for a fourth. New puisne judges are appointed by the Governor following a consultation with the Chief Justice.Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, section 73(4)

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Canada In Canada judges other than the chief justice of a court are referred to as puisne judges.

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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.Supreme Court Act, section 12A(1)

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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.Judicature (Supreme Court) Act, section 5(1)

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Mauritius In Mauritius, the Supreme Court comprises the Chief Justice, the Senior Puisne Judge, and 20 other puisne judges.

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United Kingdom

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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.

(2025). 9780198799900, Oxford University Press. . ISBN 9780198799900

Puisne judges must have at least seven years' experience as a barrister, or at least two years' experience as a circuit judge.

(2025). 9780191840807, Oxford University Press. . ISBN 9780191840807

The maximum number of puisne judges permitted in England and Wales at any one time is the full-time equivalent of 108.Senior Courts Act 1981, section 4(1)(e) (as amended)

Puisne judges are styled as The Honourable Mr/Mrs/Ms Justice

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

Puisne judges are styled as The Honourable Mr/Mrs/Madam Justice surname.

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See also

• Puisne

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External links

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

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