[blindLaw] Moving around the courtroom

[Rod Alcidonis]

You've already received great suggestions. If you regularly practice in that courtroom, you will eventually learn your way. For me, if it is my first time in the particular courtroom, I always play it safe -- never move around without my cane.

Certain times the clerk would assist with passing exhibits back and forth. Again, it depends.

There have been times when I used an assistant to pass exhibits back and forth.

To approach the bench, I use my cane. The last thing I want is for someone to have moved a chair in my way and for me to run into it on my way back to counsel table.

To go between the podium and counsel table, in small courtrooms, once you get the hang of it, you will not need your cane.

As a blind lawyer though, be careful with the concept as it might easily backfire. By that I mean, you need to keep your movement to a minimum when you are actively presenting. The last thing you want is to move away when the judge or a juror might actively be looking at you and demonstrating interests in your argument.



Rod






-----Original Message-----
From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cecilia Martinez via BlindLaw
Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 9:16 PM
To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Cc: ccmlhe at gmail.com
Subject: [blindLaw] Moving around the courtroom

Hi. Does anyone have any advice for moving around the courtroom during trials? How to approach witnesses, find the podium, move around the room as you’re speaking, and do this successfully? Do you use your cane? If so, what do you do with it when you’re at the podium? What about if you choose not to use a podium when giving your opening statement for example? Where do you put your cane? Do you have it in your hand? Any advice would be great.

Thank you


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