A Deaf Judge, Deaf Defendants, and ASL

Just when a few Deaf people actually believed that there'll never be a time to see a deaf judge signing in ASL to deaf defendants in his own court room.

During his time as a municipal judge, Carson has come across at least three defendants who were deaf. In those cases, the deaf judge and deaf defendants communicated in sign language.

"The deaf defendants seem pretty surprised the judge could use ASL (American Sign Language) and, of course, there was nothing for the captioner to type because there were no words spoken," Carson said, adding that his municipal court is not a court of record where transcripts are required.

Miguel Matos has been Cibolo city prosecutor for about a year and wasn't sure what to think when told he would be working with a deaf judge.

"I was a little apprehensive about that and because I am a pretty new attorney," Matos said. "But from the moment I met Judge Carson I found him to be warm and pleasant, and I am incredibly impressed with his ability to read lips in court and he uses the coolest technology to help him.

It wasn't too long ago I reported on the rising number of deaf judges and deaf attorneys but amazingly so there are some Deaf people who actually believe that (even bluntly to little Deaf girls who want to become a Deaf judge someday) having a Deaf judge just wouldn't be possible.

Oh, really?

I suppose my blog piece about this deaf judge wouldn't count because he's not "Deaf enough"?

No?

Try explaining that to this little Deaf girl, whose dream was probably crushed horribly, that there is in fact a deaf judge who knows ASL and have signed to Deaf defendents in his own courtroom! In fact, this deaf judge is so remarkable many look to him to study how he runs his own courtroom.

"Judge Carson is one of the best judges you will find because he is so professional, and other cities in our area are studying the way he runs his court to look for ways to improve their courts," Parton said.

Now, it doesn't matter whether these judges are culturally deaf or not. What matters is that we have the communication technology to make this evidentally possible for all judges (and attorneys) from mild to profound hearing loss to function just as well as any hearing judges sitting at the bench.

Now, who will fetch this little Deaf girl and introduce her to this remarkable deaf judge and help reset her path to her dream of becoming a Deaf judge someday? I hope somebody would be smart enough to do something about it.

Hattip: Chuck McCollough from Express-News contacted me about this story he wrote a few days ago.

UPDATE: I guess I was right. According to some people it's all about whether one is "Deaf enough" or not. Thereby disqualifying the judge even though he knows sign language proficiently well despite becoming deaf later in his adult life. Nice to know there are still militant Deaf people out there who don't mind squashing little Deaf girls' dream of becoming a Deaf judge someday. I thought that was the job of hearing people to squash dreams. I guess I was wrong, folks.

UPDATE II: Read Frumious Bandersnatch's comment in DeafDC in response about deaf judges. an excellent response to those who must insist on using the "not Deaf enough" route when it comes to deaf judges. Scroll down about 2/3rd of the way to get to the deaf judge part.

To be a successful deaf lawyer, above all, you do need to be proficient in English. You need strong communication skills, which means, frequently, being able to speak comprehensible English with your clients. You also need to be able to parse complex transactions and events and reduce them to readable English for your clients as well as for the court.

In addition, if you want to be a judge, then you need to show some record of public service, legal and professional qualifications, such as bar membership and pro bono activities. You also have to interact with a lot of politicians and brown-nose them for appointment to judicial office. This all requires a good sense of English and good verbal skills (and most definitely, good people skills!), which probably (I don’t say that it’s impossible) rules out a “pure” ASL user. I would venture to guess that the powers that be that appoint judges will not give a second (or even first) glance at someone who uses ASL only and uses an interpreter to voice only to communicate.

So, in order to become that Deaf judge he or she must have a solid grasp and skill in the English language. After all, you have to go to college and take bar exams before you step foot into the area of law. And for anyone who believe differently then their "expectations with respect to deaf judges are rather grandiose and unrealistic."