[blindlaw] Issues in attending court proceedings alone as blindattorney?

[Ford, Tim (CDPH-OLS)]

If you will be going to court hearings by yourself, at a minimum I
suggest you have a laptop with scanning software, and take one of those
very little flatbed scanners.  I think they are only about $60 or less,
and they work fine.  The one I have, which is actually several years
old, works strictly off of the USB cord, so you do not need to find a
power plug.  The unit is only an inch think, and weighs a pound or less.
It is great for the situations you describe.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Rod Alcidonis
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 12:52 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: [blindlaw] Issues in attending court proceedings alone as
blindattorney?

An angle of this question has once been discussed here; however, I am
interested in some more precise issues or possible situations that I
have been thinking about. 

Assuming going to court was only to deal with one's case file and make
arguments, sign a few papers here and there, I do not think there would
be any problems for a blind attorney to participate in court proceedings
without a sighted assistant. I know of several blind attorneys who go to
court with an assistant, and some on here I think, who do not. For those
of you who do not, how do you guys go about handling such situations:

 where an opposing counsel brings you documents in the morning of the
hearing at the court house which you have to review for a hearing that
day, that afternoon, or an hour later? Or, the judge makes an order,
which you have to review at the courthouse for an afternoon hearing? Or,
the opposing party, not counsel, brings a document to court on the day
of the hearing and you are given a copy? 

Assuming one does not have an NFB Reader, what have you guys done or
what would you do in such situations? Would you ask for an extension of
time? Reschedule the hearing (some courts would push your next date
months down the line).

I know the ADA covers courthouses, but what types of accommodations have
you guys been able to receive? Getting the clerk to save orders on thumb
drives? Getting clerks to e-mail stuff, or save them on electronic
devices?

I know this is a lot and the best answer would be to get an assistant,
but this is not an option at the moment. Thanks for all of the
suggestions in advance.

Rod Alcidonis
Attorney and Counselor at Law
Philadelphia, PA
Licensed in PA -- NJ Oath pending
C. 718-704-4651
Attorney at alcidonislaw.com
"A lawyer is either a social engineer or a parasite." - Charles Hamilton
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