A moving, thoughtful, and inspiring memoir by one of America’s most accomplished public servants and legal thinkers. Judge David S. Tatel (U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit), spent years denying and working around his blindness, before finally embracing it as an essential part of his identity.

In Conversation with Amanda K. Rice, Issues & Appeals Partner at Jones Day.

“This memoir of a judge of the country’s second highest court, who has been without sight for decades, goes down like a cool drink on a hot day.” —Scott Turow, #1 bestselling author

Free and in-Person at The J

About the Author Judge David Tatel served on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1994 to 2023. Prior to that, his three-decade career as a civil rights lawyer included private and government positions, and focused heavily on equal educational opportunity and access to justice. He served as Director of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and then Director of the National Committee. He was the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare during the Carter Administration. When he returned to private practice in 1979, Judge Tatel joined Hogan & Hartson, where he founded and headed the firm's education practice until his appointment to the D.C. Circuit. Judge Tatel also co-chaired the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Science, Technology and Law. Judge Tatel and his wife, Edie, have four children and eight grandchildren. They live in Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Bronze Book Sponsors: EMU Center for Jewish Studies; Interfaith Leadership Council