president’s message
Law Day: The Importance of Lawyers
Engaging our Youth
By Rita A. Sheffey
Hunton & Williams LLP
M
ay 1, 2012 -- Law Day: In 1957, then American Bar
Association President Charles S. Rhyne urged a
special national day to mark our commitment to the
rule of law. One year later, United States President Dwight
D. Eisenhower established the first Law Day. Three years
later, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1
as the official date for celebrating Law Day. This was later
codified at U.S. Code, Title 36, Section 11.3. Why dedicate
one day each year to the law? What can we accomplish
in just one day?
After all, throughout the year, most people are exposed to
lawyers and the legal system in some way, whether through
one of numerous news media outlets or various television
shows and movies. Occasionally, a neighbor or friend, or
one of us, receives a summons to appear for jury duty. Sadly,
that all too often generates a negative reaction and thoughts
of how one might avoid the “inconvenience.” Some people
interact with the legal system for personal reasons, such
as to probate a relative's will, to get a divorce, to resolve a
dispute over a business contract, or to respond to a traffic
citation. But generally, most people never directly engage
with the legal system, or think it matters to them. It does
matter, and that is what Law Day is about.
There are so many reasons we should all care about our
legal system and ensuring access to our courts and an
independent judiciary. For example, in Georgia, we elect
judges for our state courts, giving every citizen a role in
deciding who our judges should be. In creating three
independent branches of government, our forefathers felt
strongly there should be checks and balances to ensure the
protections of the freedoms we fought so hard to obtain. The
framers of our Constitution made the judiciary one of the
three coequal branches of government, recognizing that the
courts are to protect our rights and to resolve our disputes.
The American Bar Association’s 2012 Law Day theme,
"No Courts. No Justice. No Freedom." underscores the
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THE ATLANTA LAWYER
April 2012
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importance of the courts and their role in ensuring access
to justice for all Americans.
All of us must have and protect our right and our
freedom to use courtrooms when we need to. That
courtroom must be open to protect families. That
courtroom must be open to validate and protect
contracts for business. That courtroom must be
open to keep the wheels of justice turning. That
courtroom must be open to defend our individual
rights to prove again and again that we continue to
be a free society. All of that takes more money …
not less and less money for our courts.
American Bar Association President
William. T. (Bill) Robinson III
As lawyers, we need to help ensure that our courts have
what they need to function effectively and efficiently. We
cannot sit back and be complacent, assuming that what is
right will prevail. In the past, I am proud to say, leaders of
the Atlanta Bar Association have been actively engaged in
supporting our judiciary, including when faced with efforts
to decrease funding for the courts. We have not done so
blindly, but rather as practitioners knowledgeable about the
operations of the courts. We also engage with our judges
proactively to evaluate ways our courts can operate more
efficiently and effectively in serving the public.
In addition to working with the Courts, however, lawyers have
an important role in educating our non-lawyer friends and
neighbors about the importance of an independent judiciary,
so that when they vote for judges, they are well-informed, and
that they will recognize the vital importance of jury service.
This year, I have met with media representatives and with
judges, discussing the challenges experienced by both in
disseminating accurate information to the public. We have
just begun this process, but I believe the Atlanta Bar has
an important role to play to facilitate healthy relationships
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association