Federal Court Asks for Declaration of Pronouns in New Announcement

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Canada’s Federal Court is amending its general practice guidelines to ask for pronouns and name pronunciation to be provided by those dealing with the court.

“Amendments to note in the latest consolidated general practice guidelines. For people dealing with the Court: Provide pronouns and pronunciation of names,” the court said in a social media post on X on Jan. 19.

In a subsequent post, the court asked for “gender neutrality in addressing a Member of the Court.” The guidelines say judges may be addressed as “Justice.” The former guidelines said judges may be addressed as “Justice,” “Mr. Justice,” or “Madam Justice.”

According to the amendments published Dec. 20, 2023, “The Court invites counsel, parties and witnesses to provide information about the correct pronunciation of their names (phonetic or syllabic spelling), titles (Dr., Mrs., Mr., Ms., Miss, Mx., etc.), and pronouns (she, he, they, etc.) prior to and at the outset of proceedings.”

The amendments also give people the “prerogative to make an Indigenous land acknowledgement,” said the Jan. 19 post on X.

The amendments document says, “Prior to the commencement of any matter in Court, parties, counsel and witnesses may honour the lands (and peoples) upon which the legal proceeding is taking place by way of a land acknowledgment.”

It adds, “While the Court respects the practice of parties, counsel and witnesses expressing a land acknowledgment, the Court must remain neutral, as it is often required to determine the substantive or legal rights of parties involved in litigation surrounding lands and/or rights associated with lands.”