[blindlaw] Issues in attending court proceedings aloneas blindattorney?

Tue Nov 24 18:06:00 UTC 2009

I am older also and when I have to go to court, state or federal, I take an 
assistant with me for similar reasons.  Many of our administrative hearings 
are telephone conferences now and I can do those alone.  I can do other 
administrative hearings alone as well but, depending on the complexity of 
the issue, I might take someone with me.  If it's in what we call "greater 
MInnesota" (out of the twin cities) I have to have a driver in any event.
Kathleen Hagen
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ross Doerr" <rumpole at roadrunner.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Issues in attending court proceedings aloneas 
blindattorney?

>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 _______________________________________________
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>
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