About this episode:

For nearly 30 years, Judge David Tatel served on the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. But his rising legal career corresponded with his declining vision–a fact he tried to hide. Now, Tatel credits his blindness (and his guide dog Vixen) for helping him evolve as a judge and a person. In this episode: a look at Judge Tatel’s astonishing career, his take on how SCOTUS is blurring the lines between judging and policymaking, what science and the legal system have in common, and his experience learning to live with blindness.

Guest:

Judge David Tatel served nearly 30 years as a Clinton appointee in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. His recent book is “Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice.”

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.

Show links and related content:

• A Supreme Court Case That’s a “Big Deal” For Public Health—Public Health On Call (January, 2023)

• This Judge Is Blind. He Wishes Our Justice System Were, Too—The New York Times

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