Courtland Perry; was blind judge in Maine court

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Courtland D. Perry II, a longtime district court judge who went blind when he was a teenager, died Friday in Florida, court officials said. He was 70.

Mr. Perry served for decades as a full-time judge before stepping down several years ago and serving in an active retired capacity, state court administrator Ted Glessner said.

Mr. Perry was blinded in an accident when he was 16 and went on to graduate from college and law school.

He brought his guide dog to court and took notes in Braille.

Appointed as a judge in 1976 by Governor James Longley, Mr. Perry developed an expertise in cases with defendants suffering from mental illness and regularly held hearings at Riverview Psychiatric Center and the former Augusta Mental Health Institute, Glessner said.

He also was a specialist in issues pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Mr. Perry and his wife spent winters in Florida.