[nfbmi-talk] Blind Judge Making History On Michigan's Top Court

Mon Dec 29 04:00:11 UTC 2014

After seeing what a talented law student can do with Braille, compared with a blind lawyer having no Braille skills, I'm with Pauline completely.  the lawyer passed, but required four years for the normally 3-year program.  ?The student, in the middle of year two, is on track and will finish in three years.  And the student is at a 3.5+ GPA and is 35 years old. Give me a good memory and Braille any time.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Terry D. Eagle via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "'Pauline Smith'" <zim1993 at gmail.com>; "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 19:47
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Blind Judge Making History On Michigan's Top Court

: Pauline, While I agree with you on the knowing and use of Braille, I differ
: on the reliance on Braille totally when it comes to law.  Having attended
: law school, one is taught to think and respond quickly on his/her feet, and
: that is where a greatly tuned memory comes in very handy and is essential
: for an attorney.  Having such a sharp memory lends credibility and value to
: a legal argument being made by a lawyer, including anticipating responses on
: both side of a legal issue, and memorized case facts, law and case citations
: are necessary to be highly effective.  It would nearly be impossible to
: quickly find and use Braille simply because of the number of Braille pages
: or cards that any case and legal issue would require to be adequately
: prepared for presenting an argument and response for any given case.  A good
: and prepared memory is virtually essential for an effective and successful
: blind attorney.
: 
: Respectfully,
: Terry
: 
: -----Original Message-----
: From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Pauline
: Smith via nfbmi-talk
: Sent: None
: To: Mark Eagle; NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List; Joe Harcz Comcast
: Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Blind Judge Making History On Michigan's Top Court
: 
: Maybe, this is quite a bit of (??) taking on my part but when Bernstein
: mentioned that he doesn't read and write like everyone else there is some
: truth to that. However if he was a Brail user. He could at least read and
: write. Maybe not the same way that everybody else that is visually but he is
: able to read and write and he wouldn't have to depend on an assistant to do
: everything as I said maybe this is too much (??) taking on my end but at the
: Brielle teacher and a lifelong user and advocate for Brielle. This got my
: hackles up.
: 
: Pauline Smith sent you this voice-to-text generated email using Voice on the
: Go.
: To listen, click on the voice message link or open the attachment.
: https://vemail1.whitelabelapp.net:443/enterprise/Recordings/NnwJAuO7-2014122
: 8-1738.wav
: 
: 
: > Original Message:
: > ---------------------------------
: > 
: > From: Mark Eagle via nfbmi-talk <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org> 
: > Sent: December 28, 2014 12:45:40 PM
: > To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>, 
: Joe Harcz Comcast <joeharcz at comcast.net>
: > Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Blind Judge Making History On Michigan?s Top Court
: > 
: > Blind Judge Making History On Michigan?s Top Court
: >  By Kevin VanderkolkPublished: December 28, 2014, 6:25 am
: > 
: > DETROIT (AP) ? Richard Bernstein has been preparing for weeks to become
: Michigan?s newest Supreme Court justice, even if he doesn?t take office
: until Thursday.
: > Since winning election in November, the 41-year-old Bernstein, who is
: blind, has been listening to an assistant who reads legal briefs aloud.
: > Bernstein then memorizes the key points in cases that will be argued Jan.
: 13.
: > Bernstein says it would be easier to read and write like everyone else,
: but that?s not how he was born. Michigan has never had a blind judge on its
: highest court. Few other states have, either.
: > Justice Bridget McCormack says Bernstein?s background is different than
: anyone else?s on the high court. She says there?s a lot that her fellow
: justices can learn from him, especially in disability law.
: > _______________________________________________
: > nfbmi-talk mailing list
: > nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
: > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
: nfbmi-talk:
: >
: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/zim1993%40gmail.com
: 
: _______________________________________________
: nfbmi-talk mailing list
: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
: To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
: nfbmi-talk:
: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/terrydeagle%40yahoo.
: com
: 
: 
: _______________________________________________
: nfbmi-talk mailing list
: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
: To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfbmi-talk:
: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/suncat0%40gmail.com