[blindLaw] Blind judges

[David Freeman]

Elizabeth,

Congratulations, again, on your move to the administrative law bench.  Prior to my appointment to superior court I spent a decade as a review judge for a State agency.  As you already know, I am always available for any questions and support.   Unfortunately, I am unaware of any type of organized group dedicated to blind judicial officers.  I looked into it myself a couple years ago without much response.  

David Freeman 
Whatcom County Superior Court 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 29, 2021, at 5:03 PM, Elizabeth Rene via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> Does anyone know if there exists anywhere in the US any effort to put together an association of blind judges?
> i’ve heard through the Internet of blind judges presiding at various court levels throughout the country but haven’t found an effective way to communicate with any of them collegially.
> I have served on my state’s Judicial conduct commission for several years now, and have just recently become a hearings judge for Washington‘s board of industrial insurance appeals. This statutory tribunal follows our superior court civil rules and rules of evidence and issues written opinions following the style of our court of appeals. We have jurisdiction over workers compensation, occupational safety violations, employer tax assessments, crime victims compensation, and a couple of other related matters. Our hearings are bench trials with a court reporter, conducted over zoom and by telephone during the pandemic but held in person under normal conditions. All appellate review, from the Superior Court to the Supreme Court, is based on the record created at our hearings. I love this work.
> It would be so wonderful if one could turn to other blind judges for mutual support and advice as do the blind lawyers on this list.
> Thanks for anything anyone knows.
> Elizabeth M René 
> Industrial Appeals Judge
> Washington State Board of
> Industrial Insurance Appeals
> 
> Elizabeth M René 
> Attorney at Law 
> WSBA #10710 
> KCBA #21824
> rene0373 at gmail.com 
> _______________________________________________
> BlindLaw mailing list
> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for BlindLaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/dave146757%40yahoo.com