[blindlaw] Bench Bar Conference

[David Andrews]

Well, the sunglasses is a stereotype, and while all of us here equate 
blindness with competence, not everyone in the public does.  I could 
be wrong -- but what I am trying to say is that your message, a 
combination of words and picture may be interpreted differently from 
what you mean. In Communications we are taught it isn't what you are 
trying to say -- but what people think you are saying.

Dave

At 05:10 PM 11/17/2012, you wrote:
>Dave:
>
>With all due respect, the only stereotype I would intend to lean on is that
>justice should be blind.  Should I decide to run, I will not only lean on
>it, I will demand it.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David
>Andrews
>Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2012 3:42 PM
>To: Blind Law Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Bench Bar Conference
>
>At the risk of being argumentative, I would urge you to think about whethe3r
>your sign/slogan is a good idea or not.  You can't or shouldn't hide your
>blindness, on the other hand do y0ou want to lean on some old stereotypes,
>that shouldn't be perpetuated, and in fact may come back to bite you in the
>.....
>
>Dave
>
>At 02:43 PM 11/16/2012, you wrote:
> >Elizabeth:
> >
> >Four County Criminal Court at Law Judges are retiring at the end of
> >next year in my county of residence.  I am seriously considering
> >running.  In fact, I have already formulated my campaign slogan.
> >
> >On the far left side of the yard signs and push cards will be a photo
> >of me with my sunglasses on and my cane visible.  To the right of my
> >photo it will read "Daniel McBride for Judge of County Criminal Court
> >One...Because Justice Should Be Blind".
> >
> >I cannot think of a reason in the world why you shouldn't run for one
> >of your judicial positions.  Further, I have no objection to  you using
> >my slogan if you like same.
> >
> >Dan
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> >Elizabeth Rene
> >Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2012 9:05 PM
> >To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> >Subject: [blindlaw] Bench Bar Conference
> >
> >Hi all,
> >
> >I'm writing to reflect upon a bench bar conference I attended on Monday
> >through my county bar association.
> >
> >Judges from every level of my state's court system, from muni court
> >presider to supreme court chief justice, spoke all day in panels to
> >engage lawyers in upcoming developments, bench bar relationships,
> >election patterns and their impact on judicial diversity, and future trends
>in court staffing.
> >
> >One striking revelation consistently communicated from the bench was
> >that 40 to 50 percent of the judges now sitting will retire within the
> >next five years.
> >
> >This was disheartening to me because well-liked and well-respected
> >judges who have been icons of the court will soon be gone, I know I'll
> >miss their presence, and there'll be a kind of knowledge and experience
> >gap yawning in the near future that will take years to fill.
> >
> >But as the day progressed, I started to have a new feeling.  Gee, maybe
> >I could be one of those new judges!
> >
> >There'll be a labor shortage on the bench, which has to mean
> >opportunity for any qualified and committed person who wants to serve
> >as a judge.  And there'll be a little bit of time to prepare for it.
> >
> >My state can't be all that unique.  So, my fellow blind lawyers, you
> >might have such an opportunity in store, too.
> >
> >With the technology now available to us, the duties of a judge should
> >be easier than ever before to perform without sight.  With a growing
> >number of blind lawyers in practice, fellow members of the bar are
> >coming to recognize us as practitioners of skill and integrity.  WE can do
>this.
> >
> >What do you think?
> >
> >Elizabeth