Michigan Supreme Court docket Justice Richard Bernstein takes depart for psychological well being remedy
Michigan Supreme Court docket Justice Richard Bernstein introduced in an announcement launched Tuesday that he would miss an upcoming session of the court docket with the intention to search psychological well being care out of state.
“I’ve chosen to take part in short-term psychological well being remedy exterior the state of Michigan whereas working remotely on energetic instances,” learn the assertion. “I cannot be becoming a member of the remainder of the Court docket for its Oral Argument particular session, scheduled for April 26, 2023, in Cheboygan.”
Mich. Supreme Court docket justice working remotely from Israel after 3 months in Dubai
Bernstein, who has served on the Michigan Supreme Court docket since 2014, is the primary and solely blind justice to ever maintain that place. Bernstein was reelected to a different eight-year time period final November and is among the many 4-3 majority of Democratic-nominated justices on the court docket.
In his assertion, Bernstein mentioned whereas he could be bodily absent, he deliberate to stay engaged with the court docket’s caseload.
“The belief and confidence that the folks of the state of Michigan place in me to serve on this position means a lot to me,” he mentioned. “On the similar time, I recognize the chance to quickly step out of the courtroom to concentrate on my psychological well being. Throughout this time, I’ll proceed working remotely on all energetic instances. I encourage everybody who struggles to hunt the assistance they want.”
Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement, who was nominated by the GOP, additionally issued an announcement supporting Bernstein’s choice.
“The Court docket asks the folks of Michigan to hitch them in supporting Justice Bernstein and respecting his privateness, as he prioritizes his well-being,” she acknowledged. “We sit up for him rejoining the Court docket in individual within the coming weeks.”
No additional clarification was supplied, together with whether or not or not Bernstein’s remedy shall be inpatient or outpatient. He additionally didn’t specify when he’ll be capable to return in-person to listen to instances.
When contacted by the Michigan Advance, Michigan Supreme Court docket spokesman John Nevin mentioned he had nothing so as to add to the statements launched by Bernstein and Clement.
Bernstein has labored remotely earlier than, spending lengthy intervals throughout the preliminary levels of the pandemic abroad, first in Dubai after which in Israel.
He made headlines in January when he mentioned he was “utterly disgusted” by fellow Justice Kyra Harris Bolden’s hiring of a clerk who had served jail time for a 1994 theft by which he fired pictures at police. Whereas the clerk finally resigned, Bernstein later issued an apology for his response, saying he regretted “overstepping Justice Bolden’s hiring course of and shouldn’t have disturbed her potential to steer her Chambers.”
Bernstein’s assertion that he was in search of psychological well being care follows February’s announcement by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) that he had checked right into a hospital to deal with his scientific melancholy. He was launched March 31 after his medical doctors mentioned his melancholy had gone into remission, and that he had “expressed a agency dedication to remedy over the long run.”
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