Politics

Justice Richard Bernstein Ventures to Notorious Mexican City to Speak

March 31, 2015, 7:49 AM by  Allan Lengel


Justice Richard Bernstein speaking in Mexico

Blindness wasn't what made Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein stand out last weekend at a legal conference in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, a border town plagued by cartel violence, carjackings, extortion, kidnappings and human trafficking.

Bernstein, the keynote speaker, was the only American judge willing to attend the conference in that Mexican community that was once considered among the world's riskiest cities. Though its murder rate has declined drastically -- going from 3,000 in 2010 to 530 in 2013  -- the city, that borders El Paso and is considered a drug gateway into the U.S., is still considered a dangerous place by the  State Department, which writes that "crime remains critical."

About 85 Mexican judges attended the Binational Legal Forum, sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez. Bernstein said he spoke to the group about the American court system, which the Mexican government is working to emulate as it becomes more transparent.

"They emphasized how much they appreciated the fact an American judge was willing to come and be with them in person," Bernstein told Deadline Detroit. "They said 'you have no idea what it means to us that you're willing to do this.'"  

Bernstein said he wasn't fearful -- "not in the slightest" -- about going down there, and he hopes at some point more American judges go down to Mexico to show support for the judicial system there. He applauded the judges in Mexico for their bravery, and said he was warmly received.

"I don't think you could go to a place where the people could be warmer and the people could be more inviting," he said. 

Bernstein also addressed social issues while he was down there.

Netnoticias, a Spanish language publication, wrote:

On March 27, Judge Bernstein met with representatives from various government and civil organizations that serve people with disabilities, including Integra Foundation, the Center of Studies for the Blind, Carita Foundation, Hogar El Manantial, Ponte In Her Shoes No In Your Place, Terapect, the State Commission on Human Rights, the Chihuahua Institute for Youth and Social Development Secretariat for North Zone.

He also led a roundtable of students in the Bachelor of Social Work at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez and gave a lecture at the College of Chihuahua attended by academics, human rights activists, representatives of civil organizations, lawyers and people with disabilities.



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