How US Justice Richard Bernstein fought to thrive while living with blindness

The Michigan Supreme Court judge spoke to us about the harsh realities of learning to live as a blind person, and why he’s devoted himself to improving the lives of the disabled and disadvantaged

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US Justice Richard Bernstein. Photo: Eugene Chan

Published: 9:00am, 14 Aug 2024Updated: 12:55pm, 20 Aug 2024

I was born blind. The biggest challenge for people with disabilities is that there is a balance that families have to go through – are you overly protective or do you allow people to be independent? Families sometimes err on [the side of] being too mindful of safety and protection, so you lose the skill set of being able to be independent. My family erred on the independent side. I was born in 1973, in Michigan (in the United States). I have an older brother, Mark, and a younger sister, Beth. My father is a lawyer and my mother is a speech pathologist, and dedicated herself to raising us kids.

Spirit Guide

My earliest memories are of learning how to function as a person who was blind. I had to learn how to get dressed. I can’t see, so organising my clothes, and every aspect of life, is a learned behaviour. Every aspect of life has to be taught. I had orientation mobility instruction to learn how to cross the street and to live life in an independent way. Life does have some dangers and you have to learn how to work past it and through it. Because I can’t connect with people visually, I go off what their spirit and vitality is. I connect with them through the spiritual essence that they have. Everybody has a certain energy and I try to learn and appreciate that energy and let it guide me. I can feel if someone is a kind, good-natured person.

People Person

I tried to fit in as best as I could at school, where I was the only blind person. I’ve been the only one in a lot of situations. I learned how to be the only blind person in middle school and in high school. I learned to work with that as best as I could, but there is sometimes a lot of isolation that comes with that. It can be challenging, but you just have to love what you do, love people and believe in people. I love being around people and doing things with people and that becomes my entire life. At the end of the day, I do everything I do because I love people and have a passion for people.

The Good Fight

It was never a given that I would go into law, but there was the idea that I should have the opportunity to. I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan. I was in a fraternity, which was helpful because I had peers who would look after me and guide me around campus. I graduated in 1996 and had to fight to get into law school. I refused to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) because it is a visually biased exam and prejudicial towards the visually impaired. It was a huge fight. Northwest University agreed and accepted me. Now everything has changed; if you are blind you don’t have to take an LSAT.