Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales, Historically, he was the second-highest judge, after the Lord Chancellor, but that changed as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005, which removed the judicial functions from the office of Lord Chancellor.
The Lord Chief Justice is also the presiding judge of the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal. Under the same Constitutional Reform Act the Lord Chief Justice is chosen by a specially appointed committee convened by the Judicial Appointments Commission.
How to Address the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The recommended social style of address is as follows:
| Beginning of letter | Dear Lord Chief Justice |
| End of letter | Yours sincerely |
| Envelope | The Rt Hon the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales |
| Verbal address | in court?My Lord (otherwise Lord Chief Justice) |
