--- title: "Richard H. Bernstein | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-bernstein-mi-justice-michigan-supreme-court" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # Richard H. Bernstein Michigan Supreme Court · Justice ## Profile - Court: Michigan Supreme Court - State: Michigan - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Michigan Supreme Court, 2014-present - Elected to the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2014, making history as the first blind justice in the United States - Before his election to the Michigan Supreme Court, he worked as an attorney specializing in disability rights and held the role of the head of the Public Service Division at The Sam Bernstein Law Firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan ### Education - Northwestern University School of Law — J.D. ### Additional information - Richard Howard Bernstein was born on November 9, 1974, and has been legally blind since birth due to retinitis pigmentosa. - He began his eight-year term in January 2015 and was re-elected in November 2022. - Practitioner, 2013-2013 - Date of birth: 1974-11-09 - Various cases that have established guidelines for accessibility in public spaces and has fought against discriminatory practices in education and employment. - He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Michigan - Throughout his career, Bernstein has been a tireless advocate for the rights of individuals with disabilities. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### videoconferencing Scope: statewide Michigan courts may determine the manner and extent of videoconferencing technology, subject to participant requests and suitability factors under MCR 2.407. Evidence excerpt: courts may determine the manner and extent of the use of videoconferencing technology and may require participants to attend court proceedings by videoconferencing technology [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote access notice Scope: statewide If a Michigan proceeding will be held by videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of how to access it. Evidence excerpt: If a proceeding will be held using videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of the way(s) to access that proceeding. [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording and broadcasting Scope: statewide Michigan prohibits photography, audio or video recording, broadcasting, or live streaming in a courtroom unless allowed by the presiding judge, subject to the separate media-coverage order. Evidence excerpt: In a courtroom, no one may use a portable electronic device to take photographs or for audio or video recording, broadcasting, or live streaming unless that use is specifically allowed by the Judge presiding over that courtroom. [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### device use Scope: statewide Michigan allows courtroom use of portable electronic devices for information retrieval, storage, internet access, and messaging, but requires silence and bars calls or other audible functions without court permission. Evidence excerpt: Attorneys, parties, and members of the public may use a portable electronic device in a courtroom to retrieve or to store information (including notetaking), to access the Internet, and to send and receive text messages or information. [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/49052f/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/jdq/jdqresponsivehtml5.zip/JDQ/Cover_and_Acknowledgments/Michigan_Supreme_Court.htm?rhtocid=_0_1) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/49052f/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/jdq/jdqresponsivehtml5.zip/JDQ/Cover_and_Acknowledgments/Michigan_Supreme_Court.htm?rhtocid=_0_1) - [Michigan Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/49052f/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/jdq/jdqresponsivehtml5.zip/JDQ/Cover_and_Acknowledgments/Michigan_Supreme_Court.htm?rhtocid=_0_1) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4763/richard-h-bernstein/) - [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) - [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4763/richard-h-bernstein/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-bernstein-mi-justice-michigan-supreme-court", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-bernstein-mi-justice-michigan-supreme-court", "name": "Richard H. Bernstein | KnowJudges", "description": "Richard H. Bernstein, Michigan Supreme Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-22", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-bernstein-mi-justice-michigan-supreme-court#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-bernstein-mi-justice-michigan-supreme-court#judge", "name": "Richard H. Bernstein", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-bernstein-mi-justice-michigan-supreme-court", "jobTitle": "Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Michigan Supreme Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/49052f/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/jdq/jdqresponsivehtml5.zip/JDQ/Cover_and_Acknowledgments/Michigan_Supreme_Court.htm?rhtocid=_0_1", "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4763/richard-h-bernstein/" ], "birthDate": "1974-11-09" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Michigan", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/michigan" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard H. Bernstein", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-bernstein-mi-justice-michigan-supreme-court" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-2f4be1384a246c5cc0b6bc97) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Michigan Court Rules — Supreme Court proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-c5366813e2974272ee2e2f40) — Michigan Supreme Court proceedings only; retained September 2, 2026 compilation. Source exceptions and later amendments apply. [Official source](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/michigan-court-rules.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.