Richard Bernstein
Elected November, 2002
Term of office: January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2010
Democrat
Richard Bernstein is a tireless advocate for disabled rights and providing a voice to those who would otherwise be forced to be silent.
Blind since birth, Richard is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Northwestern University School of Law. He is an attorney with the Bernstein Law Firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Richard is committed to taking action to help clients who need him. He successfully partnered with the United States Department of Justice to force the City of Detroit to fix broken wheelchair lifts on its buses. He also is working to affect change at Detroit Metro Airport to make the airport more accessible for disabled fliers. He fought the State of Michigan and won to preserve special education funding throughout the state.
Further, Richard represented the Paralyzed Veterans of America in an action against the University of Michigan’s plans for disabled seating in Michigan Stadium with the United States Department of Justice and represented disabled residents who sued the Oakland County (Michigan) Road Commission after “roundabout” traffic circles were built without disabled access.
Bernstein is Chair of the Board of Governors at Wayne State University in Michigan, having been elected to serve on the Board by voters statewide. He also serves in the Board of Directors for several not-for-profit organizations and teaches a political science course in social activism at the University of Michigan.
He has been honored as a “Michiganian of the Year” by the Detroit News, one of Crain’s Detroit Business’ “40 Under 40” and was recognized on worldwide television by CNN as a leader in keeping government honest. He also is the recipient of the 2008 John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award from the State Bar of Michigan and was selected by The Young Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Michigan as the 2003– 2004 Regeana Myrick Outstanding Young Lawyer Award recipient for outstanding commitment to public service. Bernstein also was named a 2009 Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
In his spare time, Bernstein is an avid runner, completing ten marathons— including four New York City marathons— and the Ironman triathlon last year in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
