The US Supreme Court is notoriously anachronistic when it comes to new technology. But in a rare move, it allowed several smartphones and tablets in the courtroom Tuesday to swear in a dozen deaf and hard of hearing attorneys.
Chief Justice John Roberts used American Sign Language instead of English for the first time to admit the largest group of deaf and hard of hearing attorneys to the Supreme Court Bar.
The 12 members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association (DHHBA) participated in the swearing-in ceremony with the help of sign-language interpreters and a real-time transcript delivered via a restricted wi-fi signal to their electronic devices.
The use of electronic devices is usually strictly banned during sessions in the cavernous marble courtroom that can seat around 400 people.
Justice Department appellate lawyer John Stanton, who is deaf, sponsored the group.
Roberts signed "your motion is granted" to indicate the attorneys were admitted, a phrase he learned especially for the ceremony, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.
"It was amazing to be part of the swearing-in ceremony today," DHHBA president Anat Maytal told AFP, saying the move marked "tremendous progress."
"It was very thoughtful for Justice Roberts to acknowledge the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association the way he did."
The attorneys included representatives from disabilities groups, Kansas practitioners Charla Beall and Leonard Hall, and US Customs and Border Protection attorney-advisor Reema Radwan.
"The real-time captioning was very helpful to ensure we were able to follow the arguments with everyone else in the courtroom," Maytal said.
"This event helps potential employers see that deaf and hard of hearing lawyers are just as qualified and can be just as successful."
A deaf lawyer has argued a case before the Supreme Court only once, in 1982 -- and lost.
"While the number of Supreme Court Bar members that actually get to argue is very low, that's no reason why a deaf or hard of hearing member can't make that exclusive list one day soon," Maytal said.
"Many already argue in the lower federal and state courts, after all."
A Supreme Court Bar admission allows attorneys to argue cases before the top court. They must be sponsored by two current members of the Bar and be attorneys in good standing for at least three years.