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

Tue Nov 24 00:06:36 UTC 2009

I have learned a great deal about technology in regard to this particular 
inquiry on this list.
However, I am perhaps older than many of you and felt that maybe some of my 
old-fashioned tactics might be of some small value or use to those on this 
list. Of course, others like Scott or Noel are true pillars of wisdom, and 
I'm sure they have their own ways of doing things in a court room setting 
that are just as, or more effective than nmine.
When I am in a court room, I bring a particularly trained pair of eyes with 
me when I go to hearings. Truth be told, only courtroom hearings. Not the 
many administrative tribunal hearings I attend these days. I am so 
accustomed to those particular  settings that I do not need or want any 
"eyes" with me. But court roomm hearings, be they in State or Federal court, 
are very different.
 The reasons are, as you may expect, visual in nature. I want to know the 
reactions and cues that can come only from a visual awareness of my 
surroundings.
The reader is trained by me to use unobtrusive signals for me so that I know 
what is going on around me. She will cough, tap a pencil or touch my foot 
with hers for the specifics that I have trained her to be aware of. I want 
her to note such things as surprise, scowling, distaste, or if I am being 
ignored or not. I want to know what is going on at the other counsel table 
and what the reactions are to my evidence.
When evidence comes my way, I want either the short hand version of it, or, 
if it is a totaly unexpected piece of evidence, what it is by heading or by 
chapter - and that is one of my methods for training "eyes" for a court room 
hearing -  'outline unexpected evidence for me so that I can focus in on 
what I really want to know.
However, I mention this only because I am lucky enough to have a pair of 
eyes that are trained to my preferences. IE: they do things my way. I insist 
on that. That is my client up there, and things will be done my way. Of 
course, that also means that I exclusively own any malpractice that may come 
down on me as well.
Thus far, it has served me pretty well in court rooms in the two states 
where I am admitted to practice.
  However, I began my practice before much of the technology currently in 
use became reliable, or as small as it is now.
I end by stating without doubt that, my way of doing things is most 
certainly not for everyone. Each attorney must be at ease with his or her 
personal way of dooing things or you will not be effective in a court room.
Beyond that it is as we all know, 90% preparation and 10% inspiration.
This is how wwe each earn our own professional reputation, gray hair  and 
stomach trouble.
(I didn't know they made scanners that darn small)

 Hope this helps out some.

Ross

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patti chang " <pattichang at att.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Issues in attending court proceedings alone as 
blindattorney?

>I use a K-NFBI Reader.
>
> Patti Gregory-Chang
> President, NFBI
> Sent from my KNFB mobile.
>
> -original message-
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Issues in attending court proceedings alone as 
> blindattorney?
> From: "Ford, Tim (CDPH-OLS)" <Tim.Ford at cdph.ca.gov>
> Date: 11/23/2009 11:24 AM
>
> 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 _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindlaw:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/tim.ford%40cdp
> h.ca.gov
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindlaw:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/pattichang%40att.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindlaw:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/rumpole%40roadrunner.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.425 / Virus Database: 270.14.79/2522 - Release Date: 11/23/09 
19:45:00