Michigan has become the first state to require judges to refer to attorneys by their preferred pronouns.
A divided Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday approved a new rule that allows attorneys to include their preferred forms of address or pronouns in the captions of court documents and requires judges to use those terms “or other respectful means” when referring to those attorneys either in court or in documents. The rule, which was adopted 5-2 by the court, goes into effect Jan. 1.
Source: ‘History is made’ as Michigan judges are ordered to use lawyers’ preferred pronouns | Reuters
Justice Welch appears CLUELESS. “Our courts and court staff must conduct business in a way that is cognizant of changes in language and societal norms,” wrote Justice Elizabeth Welch in her concurring opinion, noting that judges no longer refer to women attorneys as either “Miss” or “Mrs.” in court depending on their marital status, as was the norm years ago. ♀️♀️♀️