Justice Richard Bernstein
became the first blind justice, elected by voters statewide, to the Michigan
Supreme Court in November 2014. With a commitment to justice and fairness,
Bernstein began his 8-year term in January 2015.
Prior to being elected to
Michigan’s highest court, Justice Bernstein was known as a tireless advocate
for disabled rights as an attorney heading the public service division for The
Sam Bernstein Law Firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Blind since birth,
Justice Bernstein is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan
and earned his juris doctorate from Northwestern University School of Law.
Committed to taking
action to help clients who needed him, Justice Bernstein’s cases often set
national standards protecting the rights and safety of people with and without
disabilities.
Among his cases in
private practice, he represented the Paralyzed Veterans of America in
partnership with the United States Department of Justice in an action against
the University of Michigan to allow for safe access for disabled individuals
when the university’s alterations to the stadium failed to accommodate and
represent disabled visitors. The case helped establish guidelines that are used
by all commercial facilities across the country.
He also 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.
In a landmark settlement
against Delta Airlines and Detroit Metro Airport, Bernstein gained
accessibility for disabled fliers, helping set the standard for which airlines
and airports are to be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990. A proponent of education, he argued for, and won, preservation of special
education funding throughout the state and filed a federal suit against the
American Bar Association to put an end to its discriminatory practices toward
blind students via requirement of the Law School Admissions Test. He also
challenged the City of New York to make Central Park and all parks safer for
visitors and accessible for disabled and visually impaired individuals.
Bernstein previously
served an eight-year term on the Wayne State University Board of Governors,
elected by voters statewide, serving as its Chair from 2009-2010. He also
served as an adjunct professor in the political science department at the
University of Michigan.
Honors
Justice Bernstein has received include: “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 was
selected by The Young Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Michigan as the
2003-2004 Regeana Myrick Outstanding Young Lawyer