[blindlaw] Issues in attending court proceedings alone asblindattorney?

[Rod Alcidonis]

Thanks, Ford. I will look into getting one.



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

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From: "Ford, Tim (CDPH-OLS)" <Tim.Ford at cdph.ca.gov>
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 11:00 AM
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Issues in attending court proceedings alone 
asblindattorney?

> 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
> Houston _______________________________________________
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