Ontario courts will now be asking people for their pronouns when they show up for hearings.

The directive was issued by Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas of the Ontario Court of Justice and announced publicly on April 11.

“At the beginning of any in-person, virtual or hybrid hearings, when lawyers are introducing themselves, their client, a witness or another individual, they should provide the judge or justice of the peace with each person’s name, title (e.g. Mr., Mrs., Mx., Counsel “X”) and pronouns to be used in the hearing,” Justice Nicklas wrote.

“If counsel does not provide this information in their introduction, they may be invited by a court clerk to provide this information.”