# What is the proper form of address when speaking with a U.S. Deputy Marshal?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 20, 2009, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267 "2009-11-20T08:07:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2009, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/1 "2009-11-20T08:07:21Z")
Can any federal practitioners or court house staff out there enlighten me on this? My understanding is that there is ONE marshal for each federal district (just as there is one Sheriff for each county) and that all the other officers colloquially referred to as marshal’s are, strictly speaking, deputy marshals.
How does one address one of these officers?
1. “Excuse me, deputy, could you tell me where Courtroom 14 is?”
2. “Excuse me, marshal, could you tell me where Courtroom 14 is?”
3. “Excuse me, officer, could you tell me where Courtroom 14 is?”
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### Author:  [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/2 "2009-11-20T12:41:19Z")
If it was me:
4. Excuse me, could you tell me where Courtroom 14 is?"
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### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/3 "2009-11-20T12:55:22Z")
“Don’t tase me, bro!” Sorry - it had to be said.
When in doubt, “sir” (or “ma’am”, as applicable) is a good option.
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/4 "2009-11-20T18:27:09Z")
You can never go wrong with “sir,” but either “deputy” or “marshal” will work, too. Most people will never lay eyes on _the_ U.S. marshal for a Federal district, but plenty will see his or her many deputies, and they’re used to be being referred to simply as “marshal.”
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### Author:  [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/5 "2009-11-20T21:24:08Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> You can never go wrong with “sir,” but either “deputy” or “marshal” will work, too. Most people will never lay eyes on _the_ U.S. marshal for a Federal district, but plenty will see his or her many deputies, and they’re used to be being referred to simply as “marshal.”
Thanks EH. That’s what I thought, but good to have it confirmed. I think that I generally will address the person as “marhsal” but wondered whether I was incorrect in doing so.
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### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/6 "2009-11-20T22:20:04Z")
Just be sure to call them “_Special_ Agent”, and not just “Agent”. They get pissy about that. 😉
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/7 "2009-11-20T23:46:38Z")
And don’t forget to say thanks.
“Thank you Marshal, and tell Miss Kitty I said hello.”
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### Author:  [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/8 "2009-11-21T03:34:31Z")
> [@Irishman](#):
>
> Just be sure to call them “_Special_ Agent”, and not just “Agent”. They get pissy about that. 😉
Presumably because they’re marshalls, not agents. 😛
–Cliffy
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### Author:  [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/9 "2009-11-21T17:49:48Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> You can never go wrong with “sir,”
Unless he’s an NCO in the Army, Marines, or Navy;)
Actually, in my experience, I’ve yet to run into an NCO that got overly bent around the horn about being called “Sir”, although I did meet a Marine PFC who demanded that I stop doing so to an Army Staff Sergeant because it was disrespectful (the Staff Sergeant in question never seemed to care one way or the other how the Airmen addressed him).
Of course, you’re not likely to confuse an Army sergeant for a Deputy Marshal, so my comment is largely irrelevant.😃
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### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/10 "2009-11-23T22:19:09Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> You can never go wrong with “sir,” but either “deputy” or “marshal” will work, too. Most people will never lay eyes on _the_ U.S. marshal for a Federal district, but plenty will see his or her many deputies, and they’re used to be being referred to simply as “marshal.”
Yes, this. Either deputy, or marshal, or deputy marshal. Not quite the same thing, but my dad calls all of the deputy sheriffs by “sheriff” in the hometown courthouse as well. Seeing the actual U.S. Marshal is indeed rare, it’s like seeing the Chief of Police for a major city. I did get to see the actual U.S. Marshal for our district a couple of times when I was a federal judicial law clerk - his investiture ceremony was held in our courtroom, and I shared the staff elevator with him once. Got to say “Good morning, Marshal.” 🙂
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/11 "2009-11-24T04:59:02Z")
And for the nitpickers among us, it’s the “U.S. Marshals Service.” No apostrophe, and just one “l.”
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### Author:  [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-form-of-address-when-speaking-with-a-u-s-deputy-marshal/518267/12 "2009-11-24T05:37:00Z")
> [@Gyrate](#):
>
> “[S]ir” (or “ma’am”, as applicable) is a good option.
Especially when the person is well armed and is bigger and stronger than you are.