legal

How Jewish spirituality inspires
Michigan’s blind Supreme Court
Justice Richard Bernstein.

DAVID SACHS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

R

Richard Bernstein running in
the New York City Marathon.

42

October 4 • 2018

jn

PHOTOS COURTESY RICHARD BERNSTEIN

‘Spirit Can
Drive The
Body’

ichard Bernstein is a human
dynamo — both mentally and
physically. And his Jewish spiri-
tuality plays a major motivational role.
Despite being blind since birth,
the 44-year-old lawyer was elected a
Michigan Supreme Court justice four
years ago and has traveled the world
advocating for the disabled.
On the athletic front, Bernstein has
completed 21 marathon races and a
grueling Ironman triathlon. He also has
recovered from a broken hip and pelvis
in 2012, when a bicyclist lost control
and plowed into him at high speed in
New York’s Central Park.
The resulting 10-week hospitaliza-
tion only served to enhance his reli-
gious and philosophical viewpoints.
“From a spiritual perspective — and
I really believe this — HaShem gives us
certain life experiences for a reason,”
Bernstein said. “And the more life
experiences He gives to us, the more
we’re expected to use them to have an
overall impact.”
Bernstein believes his physical chal-
lenges are what makes him an empa-
thetic judge, and that’s why the voters
of Michigan elected him.
“People thought having a person
with a severe disability serving on the
bench was something they could con-
nect with because they felt I was able to
appreciate the challenges, struggles and
concerns that they had to face.
“If I hadn’t had a 10-week hospital-
ization, if I hadn’t had this blindness, I
don’t think I’d be as good a judge.”
Bernstein believes he influences the
other justices on the seven-member
Supreme Court.
“What’s great about having a blind
Supreme Court judge is you’re able to
bring in a perspective, understanding
and appreciation of things that would
otherwise get lost.”
Bernstein will address a dinner of
the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan
(JBAM) at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15,
at the Skyline Club in Southfield. He
will be honored with the group’s first
annual Champion of Justice Award for
the significant impact he has made to

improve the justice sys-
tem while exhibiting the
highest level of profes-
sionalism and civility.
“Justice Bernstein
is a role model for
Jewish Bar Association
Jonathan
members,” said JBAM
Schwartz
President Jonathan
Schwartz. “It will be exciting to hear his
powerful message.”
A portion of the proceeds will
support JBAM’s Charles J. Cohen
Scholarship fund for law students.

WORLDWIDE INFLUENCE
“Being a Supreme Court justice is not
just about making decisions or render-
ing verdicts; it’s also about what you do
with the position to have an impact,”
Bernstein said. “Creating kindness and
civility [in the justice system] is not just
happening in Michigan; it’s happening
across the world. We’ve been working
on this initiative on a global basis. I’m
very excited about it.
“As an example, I’ve been working
very closely with the Israel Defense
Forces to create opportunities for peo-
ple with disabilities to be included in
the military. I’ve been working with
one of my best friends who is a pilot in
the IDF. This program got people so
excited the Knesset also got involved in
hiring people with disabilities.
“Private companies throughout Israel
also agreed to work on this initiative.
We’ve been working with the Knesset
about hiring judges with disabilities.
They just appointed a wheelchair user
to serve as chief judge of Jerusalem.
“This led to being asked to speak on
behalf of Israel at the United Nations
in Vienna, Austria, to showcase what
Israel was doing in terms of inclusion.
I spoke there in front of well over 100
countries. The partnership between
Israel and a Michigan Supreme Court
justice allowed these countries to see
what is possible.
“I’m now flying to Italy because
in Italy we’ll do the same thing we’re
doing in Spain, Austria, Australia,
Ecuador and Israel.

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