Blind Justice
Local attorney vies for seat on
Michigan State Supreme Court.
OOD LIFE.
Harry Kirsbaum
Contributing Writer
R
ichard Bernstein is vying for
a seat on the Michigan State
Supreme Court bench on
Nov. 4 and, according to his slogan, if
elected, he'll be "a blind justice for all"
"My campaign slogan is my idea
of blind justice said Bernstein, 40,
of Birmingham. "When you look at
it, blind justice means fairness for all
people. The courts should be blind to
corporate interests, blind to partisan
politics, blind to political ideology, and
it's in the idea of fairness that you can
achieve true justice:"
Bernstein, who was born blind, has
always fought for fair treatment of
persons with disabilities, starting with
himself. After all, he had to fight the
Law School Admissions Council to get
into law school and graduated from
Northwestern Law School in 1999 as
the only blind person in the school.
"There are certain challenges and
difficulties that exist for all of us. And
when you want to do it, that means
you've got to get out there and work
for it" he said. "Your chances are only
as good as the amount of work, the
amount of effort and the amount of
tenacity and focus that you are will-
ing to put in to the challenges that lie
before you:'
Bernstein is one of five candidates
seeking an eight-year term for two open
seats on the bench. Three other can-
didates are seeking one seat for a two-
year term. The fact that he has no judi-
cial experience doesn't worry him. After
all, he said, U.S. Supreme Court Justices
Earl Warren and Thurgood Marshall
had no bench experience either.
And neither did current Michigan
Supreme Court Justice Bridget
McCormack.
"When you talk to jurists and prac-
titioners, her addition on the court has
been a welcome breath of fresh air,"
Bernstein said. "When you look at the
types of judges we have, it comes down
to unique life experiences, which can
make all the difference when deciding
the critical cases of our times:'
Bernstein, who has run 18 mara-
thons and completed an Ironman
Triathlon, is now in another type of
race and has increased his mileage at
airports and in cars traveling the state.
He said a recent week included
"Detroit to Traverse City to Grand
Rapids, to Lansing, to Grand Rapids,
It starts by getting to know you.
Because the more I know about you the better I can help protect
what's important in your world. And be there for you when you
have a question or a concern. That's how I help people live the
good life right here in Michigan.
Shayna Levin
248-716-1001
Richard Bernstein
to Benton Harbor, to Grand Rapids, to
Traverse City, to Cheboygan, to Sault
St. Marie, to Escanaba, to Marquette,
to Saginaw, to Flint"
When not running, he works at the
family business in the Sam Bernstein
Law Firm.
His family is very close. They are
all members of Congregation Shaarey
Zedek in Southfield, and they are pro-
viding as much support as they can.
"We have been supportive of him
in every possible way" said Mark
Bernstein, his brother. "We rely on
each other to get things done around
here, so we're all stepping up while he's
out campaigning to win this election:'
His father, Sam, said they're all
proud of what Richard's become, espe-
cially when it comes to helping people.
"When he was injured in Central
Park, instead of suing the bicyclist, he
initiated a lawsuit from his hospital
bed against New York City to make the
park safer;' he said. "We always joke
that he's in charge of our pro bono
department in the firm, and it's the
only department that's growing"
A bicyclist injured Bernstein while
he was walking in Central Park in
August 2012 after completing his 17th
marathon. He spent more than 10
weeks at Mount Sinai Hospital in New
York learning how to walk again.
"There are certain times in your life
that define who we are and define the
person we are ultimately going to be.
When I was in the hospital, the pain of
a shattered hip and shattered pelvis is
unbelievably difficult, but you reach a
point that you just simply get up" he
said.
Bernstein is in the final sprint to
gain a seat on the Michigan Supreme
Court bench and, if tenacity and hard
work are the key, there's nothing hold-
ing him back.
❑
46670 W. Pontiac Trail, Suite 6
Commerce Township
shaynalevin@allstate.com
Allstate.
Call me for the protection you need
and the service you want.
GOOD HANDS for
the
GOOD LIFE
Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Insurance Co. © 2013 Allstate Insurance Co.
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