<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Bobbi A. L. Pompey<div>(336) 988-6375</div><div>bobbipompey@gmail.com</div><div><br></div><div>"Not everything faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced" James Baldwin </div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> president@nfbcal.org<br><b>Date:</b> March 17, 2024 at 2:33:49 PM PDT<br><b>To:</b> Rachel Grider <rachel.grider@gmail.com>, Jeanette Jones - NFBC <blindwise.jj@gmail.com>, "Jamie Principato (Personal)" <blackbyrdfly@gmail.com>, Brian Buhrow <buhrow@nfbcal.org>, Bobbi Pompey <bobbipompey@gmail.com>, Miguel Mendez - NFBC <Miguelmendez7@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Jury Trial Opportunity</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Please spread the word. Lisamaria Martinez, a blind community leader from the San Francisco Bay Area, is taking her civil rights case before a jury starting on the afternoon of March 26, 2024, in the San Francisco federal court. A jury will decide if the County of Alameda has violated the ADA by refusing to provide a scribe for blind people who need to fill out paper forms. Individuals interested in supporting Plaintiff Lisamaria Martinez, Attorney Tim Elder, or otherwise interested in watching any portion of this rare instance of an ADA jury trial may find the following details helpful. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>When:<o:p></o:p></h3><p class="MsoNormal">Starting on March 26, 2024, immediately after the lunch break and jury selection. The trial will continue for a few days thereafter starting at 9:30 a.m. and adjourning at 3:30 p.m. each day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><h3>Where:<o:p></o:p></h3><p class="MsoNormal">Phillip Burton Federal Building<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">15th Floor, Courtroom 15-D (Judge Hixson presiding (<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">450 Golden Gate Ave., <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">San Francisco, CA 94102, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>Why:<o:p></o:p></h3><p class="MsoNormal">A rare ADA case against the County of Alameda regarding the provision of a scribe as a requested auxiliary aid or service necessary for filling out paper forms in a government office. It may have wide implications for whether government offices and other service providers fill out paper forms for blind people in the future. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>How:<o:p></o:p></h3><p class="MsoNormal">The court is within walking distance of the U.N. Plaza Civic Center BART station. It is walking distance from the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Individuals will need to pass through a metal detector and security screening with government ID similar to going through TSA checks at an airport. A cafeteria is available in the federal building. Security at the building entrance can give directions and information to Judge Hixson’s court and the case: Martinez v. County of Alameda, 3:20-cv-06570-TSH. The court room is open to the public. Business attire is recommended. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Tim Elder<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">National Federation of the Blind of California <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:president@nfbcal.org"><span style="color:#0563C1">president@nfbcal.org</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">(916) 382-0372 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.nfbcal.org/"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.nfbcal.org/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Did you know that blind Californians are holding monthly meetings in your region over Zoom and telephone? Check out our virtual local chapter and division meetings. All are welcome to attend.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> <a href="http://www.nfbcal.org/chapters-and-divisions/"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.nfbcal.org/chapters-and-divisions/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></blockquote></body></html>