[blindlaw] Courtroom information technology for judges

[Rahul Bajaj]

Hi Elizabeth,

Many congratulations!

1. I have interviewed many blind judges. These include: David Tatel,
David Szumowski [San Diego County Court judge]; and Zak Yacoob [judge
on the South African Constitutional Court]. You can find their
interviews online, if you search on Google for the IDAP interview
series and add the names I just mentioned to the search terms. Judge
Szumowski also recently published his autobiography.
2. I have also had a detailed conversation with Justice Bernstein who
has been referenced once in this thread. Another judge, who has MS and
is not blind but nonetheless may have useful insights about serving as
a judge with a disability is 9th circuit judge Ronald Gould. The IDAP
series features his interview as well.
3. I have the contact details of these judges and would be happy to
put you in touch with any of them, should you wish.

Best,
Rahul

On 21/03/2019, James T. Fetter via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Elizabeth,
>
> First of all, congratulations! We are in desperate need of more judges
> with visible disabilities, including blindness; the relative lack of
> resources on accessibility for blind judges indicates as much. I also
> externed, but I mainly just assisted with writing opinions. I interacted
> with ECF and my state Supreme Court's web-based public docket, both of
> which were accessible. I thus am unfortunately not much help on how to
> handle all the paper that is likely to be flying around in your courtroom.
>
>
> On 3/21/2019 1:16 PM, Elizabeth Rene via BlindLaw wrote:
>
>> Hello list mates,
>> I have just been invited to interview for the position of judge/magistrate
>> pro tempore in the Seattle Municipal Court. This is the busiest Municipal
>> Court in my state. I’m excited about this because I served the court as an
>> assistant city prosecutor years ago.
>> Back in the day, I have a little hope of ever serving as an SMC judge pro
>> tem because I didn’t expect it information system to be accessible to me.
>> I’m taking the plunge now and hoping there’s better technology on offer.
>> (I’ve prepared for pro tem service by taking CLEs presented by my state’s
>> association of district and municipal court judges, getting onto the
>> state-wide pro tem registry, serving on my state’s Commission on
>> judicial conduct and court rules committee, and trying to stay current on
>> criminal law & procedure and evidence. I’ve also been an ALJ and presided
>> at character & fitness hearings for my bar association.)
>> My question to you all is, are there any blind judges out there who use
>> electronic information technology in the courtroom? Has it been accessible
>> to you? If not, how do you find out what you need to know in real time?
>> How do you make entries were necessary. Have your clerks been helpful to
>> you?
>> Seattle municipal court calendars are heavy, with vigorous motion
>> practice, jury trials, bench calendars, night court, and in-and out of
>> custody arraignments. The SMC includes a mental health court, a drug
>> court, a domestic violence court, and a veterans‘ court to provide
>> enhanced services to these offender populations. There is some civil
>> jurisdiction too. The magistrates under its supervision handle traffic
>> infractions and civil municipal code violations that can involve complex
>> fact situations and initial legal rulings. If any blind judges have any
>> tips at all for me about anything to do with being a judge, I’d be very
>> grateful to learn them.
>> Being on the State pro tem registry allows me to preside anywhere in
>> Washington if the court needs assistance. So I can gain experience in tiny
>> jurisdictions as well as in this major metropolis. If anyone knows a blind
>> judge, either inside or outside of the NFB, please pass their name along.
>> Many thanks!
>> Elizabeth
>>
>>
>>
>> Elizabeth M René
>> Attorney at Law
>> WSBA #10710
>> KCBA #21824
>> rene0373 at gmail.com
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-- 
--
Rahul Bajaj
Candidate for the BCL
Rhodes Scholar (India and Linacre 2018)
University of Oxford