A historic event in the Supreme Court took place when U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts used sign language to welcome 12 deaf lawyers who sworn in front of the court.
The 12 lawyers are members of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association and the ceremony authorized them to argue legal cases before the court. After the 12 lawyers were presented, Roberts motioned in sign language saying "Your motion is granted," according to a report from Reuters. It was then reported that Roberts learned to sign language that phrase just for the occasion, according to the spokeswoman of Supreme Court, Kathy Arberg.
This is the first time that the members of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association participated in swearing-in ceremony of the court. Normally, electronic devices are not allowed inside the courtroom but in this event, the lawyers are allowed to use an instant transcription service that was transmitted to electronic devices.
Justice Department appellate lawyer John Stanton, who is also deaf, sponsored the group of lawyers.
In an article released by Raw Story, the DHHBA is very happy with the event and that the move marked "tremendous progress." It also helps in employing persons with disabilities, like deaf and hard of hearing, who are also qualified to be lawyers and can be successful in their chosen field. "It was amazing to be part of the swearing-in ceremony today," Anat Maytal, president of DHHBA, said. "It was very thoughtful for Justice Roberts to acknowledge the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association the way he did."
One of the 12 lawyers is Teresa Curtin. She is based in New York and during her 20 years of practicing law, Curtin said that it is never easy. "It hasn't been easy," she said. "I think the biggest challenge has been to get people to give me the opportunity." Curtin would often need to explain to the judges that she is not the defendant but the lawyer and that she has an interpreter with her, according to The Washington Post. Curtin also remarked that the ceremony encouraged people with disabilities that they can still pursue a legal career.
Curtin and her group weren't the first deaf lawyers to be considered in court. In 1982, Michael Chatoff was the first deaf lawyer to argue and present a case in front of the court. He used special devices that transcribed the judge's questions. The case was about whether a school was required to provide a deaf student a sign language interpreter when studying. However, he lost the case in a 6-3 ruling.
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