WASHINGTON DC -- The Wall Street Journal: 12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing attorneys just made U.S. history. For the first time, Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday used a language other than English in the formal ceremony admitting attorneys to the Supreme Court Bar: American Sign Language.
A dozen lawyers from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association took the oath of admission promising to conduct themselves “uprightly and according to the law” which the chief justice oversees before an argument session.
After their sponsor, John Stanton, a Justice Department attorney and member of the association, moved their admission, Chief Justice Roberts gave the traditional response in sign language: “Your motion is now granted.” He then repeated the phrase in English.
A Supreme Court spokeswoman, Kathy Arberg, said the chief justice learned to sign the phrase specifically for Tuesday’s ceremony.
“We are truly honored to be admitted to the Supreme Court Bar,” the association’s president, Anat Maytal, a litigation associate at Baker Hostetler, said in a statement. “Our admission sets a precedent that will hopefully encourage others with disabilities to pursue a legal career and view the legal profession as being open to diverse backgrounds.” SOURCE
Legal education in the United States - Admission to the bar in the United States.
Video credit from Fusion - https://www.youtube.com/thisisfusion
