HOUGHTON -- As a guest of the Houghton County Democratic Party, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Honorable Richard Bernstein will speak at 7 p.m. on Saturday April 27, in the conference room at the Houghton Super 8, 1200 E Lakeshore Drive. The event is open to the public.
Elected by voters statewide to the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2014, Justice Bernstein began his 8-year term in January 2015. With a commitment to justice and fairness, he has been highly successful in his human rights cases, both in private practice and through partnerships with the United States Department of Justice. Beyond his legal track record, Justice Bernstein, is a truly amazing individual as the only blind State Supreme Court Justice in the US. Here are just some of the notable aspects of his career to date:
His law practice has concentrated on fighting for the access rights of disabled people. Committed to helping clients who need him, Justice Bernstein is known for taking action in cases that have set national standards protecting the rights and safety of people with and without disabilities.
Bernstein successfully partnered with the United States Department of Justice to force the City of Detroit to fix broken wheelchair lifts on its buses, establishing a precedent for accessibility in public transportation. Further, Bernstein represented disabled residents against the Oakland County (Michigan) Road Commission after "roundabout" traffic circles were built without disabled access, impacting future ADA compliance for road construction throughout the United States.
Justice Bernstein has received many honors, including "Michiganian of the Year" by the Detroit News, one of Crain’s Detroit Business’ "40 Under 40" and recognition on worldwide television by CNN as a leader in keeping government honest. He is a recipient of the 2008 John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award from the State Bar of Michigan in recognition of his leadership as an advocate and activist.
Michigan Lawyers Weekly named Justice Bernstein a 2009 Leader in the Law, and the University of Michigan presented him with the James T. Neubacher Award in 2011 for his unwavering commitment to equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Justice Bernstein was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. In his spare time, Justice Bernstein is an avid runner, completing 22 marathons -- including thirteen New York City marathons -- the full Ironman triathlon in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in 2008 and the Israman triathlon’s half Ironman in Eilat, Israel in 2011.
To read more about Justice Bernstein, click here.
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