Catholic lawyers object to rule requiring use of ‘personal pronouns’ in Michigan courts
The Catholic Lawyers Society of Metropolitan Detroit and others have voiced opposition to a new rule that would compel Michigan judges to address attorneys and parties in court using their preferred “personal pronouns,” saying the proposed rule violates First Amendment protections of religious freedom and freedom of speech.
The proposed amendment to the Michigan Court Rules, currently under consideration by the Michigan Supreme Court, “should be of great concern to any Catholic,” Marcia McBrien, past president of the Catholic Lawyers Society of Metropolitan Detroit, told Detroit Catholic in an email.
The new rule would allow attorneys and parties to “include any personal pronouns in the name section of the caption, and courts are required to use those personal pronouns when referring to or identifying the party or attorney, either verbally or in writing,” according to its proposed text.
The court has asked for public comment on the proposed rule, which is open until May 1.
On April 14, the Catholic Lawyers Society of Metropolitan Detroit issued a statement to the court opposing the rule, arguing its adoption would infringe on Catholic judges’ religious liberty and protected freedom of speech.
“If adopted, the proposed rule would force Catholic judges to either affirm an ideology that is directly contrary to Catholic teaching or risk judicial discipline proceedings,” McBrien told Detroit Catholic. “If this rule is adopted, we can expect that the requirement to use false pronouns will soon be extended to attorneys and others in the legal system, with consequences not only for Catholics but also for anyone who does not agree with the notion that human identity is subjective and malleable.”
The Religious Liberty Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan also said it “strongly opposes” the proposed amendment, in a statement to the court April 6.
