B.C.鈥檚 court systems are moving towards becoming more modern in their in-court language.

Announced Nov. 18 as part of updates to policies within B.C.鈥檚 Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, Justices will no longer be addressed as 鈥渕y lady鈥� and 鈥渕y lord,鈥� instead being called 鈥測our ladyship鈥� and 鈥測our lordship鈥�

Meanwhile, Justices of the Court of Appeal will be referred to as 鈥淐hief Justice鈥�, 鈥淛ustice鈥�, 鈥淢adam Justice鈥�, 鈥淢r. Justice鈥� or, collectively, as 鈥淛ustices.鈥�

For most non-lawyers, the changes mean little, but for those in the field the changes are receiving some reaction.

鈥淭his is an important step in making our courts inclusive and approachable institutions,鈥� David Brown, a labour and employment lawyer, tweeted.

鈥淭his approach to honorifics used in the courtroom is much better aligned with gender inclusion, anti-colonialism, and reconciliation,鈥� Dustin Klaudt, co-chair of the Canadian Bar Association鈥檚 SOGIC.

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