Judge Ronald Gould on his MS: "Just take life a step at a time"

Federal Judge Ronald Gould, 79, navigates a demanding caseload on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle while living with progressive multiple sclerosis. Despite the challenges of his condition, which has left him reliant on round-the-clock caregivers and unable to use his arms and legs, Gould maintains a full workload.

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My life is just an ordinary life where I've been given responsibility, and I do my best to live up to it.

Nominated to the bench by President Bill Clinton in 1999, Gould has a distinguished career, including graduating magna cum laude from law school and serving as a Supreme Court clerk. He first noticed symptoms of MS during his private law practice, initially trying to conceal his diagnosis. The progression of his illness eventually led him to use a cane and then a wheelchair, but he continued his work.

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My MS can still throw me an unexpected curveball. But you know, just take life a step at a time.

Gould now presides remotely over cases, assisted by caregivers and law clerks. He has mentored numerous young lawyers, including former law clerk Karla Gilbride, who is an attorney and has been blind since birth. Gould's approach to his condition is marked by resilience and humor, famously stating, "My MS can still throw me an unexpected curveball. But you know, just take life a step at a time." He adds, with a chuckle, "I guess for me, it would be a roll of the wheel at a time!"

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I guess for me, it would be a roll of the wheel at a time!