In cooperation with Dr. Michael Fembek of the Essl Foundation, Director of the Zero Project, Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH (fwp) hosted a select presentation by Justice Richard Bernstein – the first blind judge at the Michigan Supreme Court and a sports enthusiast.

 ‘Current Challenges to the American Judicial System’ – this was the subject of the presentation hosted by fwp on its premises. But during the ensuing exciting discussion the focus was mainly on the daily life of Justice Bernstein as the first blind judge at the Michigan Supreme Court. ‘If you can‘t handle the responsibility, you shouldn’t do it – whether you’re blind or not’, said Justice Bernstein. He works about 15 hours a day dealing with 26 cases per week.

‘The clerks are very important, I do not use any technology to get informed about the cases’, explained Judge Bernstein and added ‘The Michigan Supreme Court is the last court you go to – if you miss only one thing, it will affect the entire life of a person.’

 When asked about his ability to judge people without seeing their gestures and facial expressions and thus to be a good judge, he answered: ‘I am able to feel the energy of people. A blind justice really understands the person – I think this is the powerful gift of blindness.’

Just as impressive as his daily work is his untiring work for people with a handicap. He already embarked on that mission when he still was an attorney, and now it has taken him to Vienna where he is taking part in the Zero Project Conference 2017. This international ‘summit meeting’, which is held upon the initiative of Essl Foundation at the Vienna International Centre every year, pursues the objective of creating a barrier-free world and improving the daily lives and the rights of people with disabilities. This year’s priority topic, ‘Employment for persons with disabilities’ is of particular concern to Justice Bernstein: ‘For people with disabilities to be part of the society, they need to be able to get a job.’

Personal information: In November 2014, Justice Richard H. Bernstein became the first legally blind Justice elected by voters statewide to the Michigan Supreme Court. Before being elected, Justice Bernstein was a tireless advocate for disabled rights as an attorney heading the public service division for The Sam Bernstein Law Firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Legally blind since birth, he graduated from the University of Michigan and earned his law degree from Northwestern University. In his spare time, Justice Bernstein is an avid runner, completing 20 marathons, including eight New York City marathons, the full Ironman triathlon and the Israman triathlon.