A Judge Who Does More than Issue Rulings

During the work day, you’ll find Judge Eskunder Boyd wearing a black robe and deliberating on important issues. He is an Administrative Law Judge in New Haven, Conn, who must carefully weigh evidence to decide if claimants are eligible for Social Security disability payments.

During his off-hours you’ll find Judge Boyd serving his community in a different way. He’s a volunteer with the Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven, where he is helping a 73-year-old learn to read. His student is originally from the Caribbean; he had a career as a skilled tradesman but never learned to fully read.

“Community service has always been important to me,” says Judge Boyd. “This opportunity came to me because I was at a restaurant and saw a flyer that said, ‘If you can read this, you can help.’ It really was a lightbulb moment for me as far as choosing that for community service.”

Judge Boyd is a member of the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ), the professional association that represents over 1,400 Social Security Administrative Law Judges across the U.S.

“I’m very committed to being the best Administrative Law Judge I can be, but it’s important to be a well-rounded person. This type of volunteering also makes me fully realize the overall importance of Social Security retirement benefits and ensuring that our nation’s low-income elderly have sufficient support and care.”

He is also a national leader within AALJ, heading efforts to raise awareness of the need for more security for judges and in courtrooms. “The next major step is to inform our members of Congress about the scope of the threat. We also hope to identify amendments to existing laws that would provide us with more protection and keep some of our confidential information out of public reach. Within the Social Security Administration, I hope to work with management to establish and communicate clear policies so that all judges know what to do in the event of any type of threat.”

Judge Melissa McIntosh, president, AALJ, says Judge Boyd exemplifies the best of the judiciary. “ALJs like Judge Boyd are very proud to serve the American public and take the responsibility of ensuring their due process rights seriously. Hundreds of our members are active and engaged in their local communities, but Judge Boyd really sets the example.”

Judge Boyd is most proud of the fact that his student is now able to read more of his medical information. “It’s like what I tell my student. I am not helping him; he is helping me. The time that I spent with him makes me a better person.”