"Will Help Gender Diverse Lawyers" : Queer Advocate Requests CJI To Modify Appearance Slips To Allow People To Mention Pronouns

Advocate Rohin Bhatt, a queer lawyer practicing in the Supreme Court of India has written a letter to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud requesting to modify the appearance slips in the Supreme Court to include an additional column for mentioning people's pronouns. As per the letter which has been sent via an email, this would allow the correct usage of a person's pronouns in the Court's orders or judgements. 

"While this may seem simple, and such a change will only require an administrative direction from you, it will go a long way in affirming the identities of the queer lawyers that appear before the Supreme Court. Such a small step will go a long way in improving experiences within the legal system for trans, gender non-confirming and gender diverse lawyers", the letter states.

While providing the example of the Provincial Court of British Columbia, in which the Court asks people to state their name, title, and pronouns to be used in the court, Bhatt has stated that such an administrative decision by the CJI would go a long way in affirming the identities of the queer lawyers who appear before the Supreme Court.

He cited the following example : "My name is Ms. Jane Lee, spelled L-E-E. I use she/her pronouns. I am the lawyer for Mx. Joe Carter who uses they/them pronouns"

The letter states–

"This will help the court to identify correct pronouns and forms of address by adopting one practice that applies equally to all and will go a long way in avoiding lawyers or parties having to raise the issue only after incorrect titles or pronouns are used. This will go a long way in addressing gender dysmorphia in queer lawyers. Finally, this will herald in a new era of a queer-friendly judiciary that supports a shift in professional practice towards asking all people how they should be respectfully addressed, acknowledging that this should not be assumed based on name, appearance or voice."

The letter also adds that if a party or a lawyer does not provide information pertaining to their pronouns in their introduction, they can be prompted by a court clerk to do so. While referring to language as a means utilised to "often inflict symbolic violence on transgender litigants" which can lead to enhancing dysphoria and psychological distress, the letter states that the correct usage of pronouns in orders and judgements of the Court will affirm identities and challenge discriminatory attitudes.

"Clarity and precision have been paramount in legal writing. When half of today's law students are women, and queer people are becoming more visible by the day in the legal profession, the Supreme Court should embrace language that is truly inclusive in its orders", the letter states.