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JAG celebrates Law Day

  • Published
  • By Capt. Daniel Lee
  • 87th Air Base Wing Legal Office, chief of preventive law
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Law Day is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law; it underscores how law and the legal process have contributed to the freedoms all Americans share.

Each year, Law Day events and programs are planned throughout the first week of May and carried out by bar associations, courts and other entities.

The American Bar Association selects a theme each year for these events. The theme of this year's Law Day is Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges.

President Eisenhower proclaimed the first Law Day a "day of national dedication to the principle of government under law" in 1958. We celebrated the 53rd annual Law Day May 1 with a theme causing us to reflect on how drawing upon our enduring legal traditions - such as fairness, respect for the rule of law and access to justice for all persons - can help us face emerging challenges. Law Day is an annual reminder to reach out to the local community to emphasize our traditions and to address new challenges.

Law Day has engaged the public throughout the years in discussion on relevant issues focusing on enhancing knowledge of our governmental structure and legal process. This year we focus on a theme involving not only all Americans, but all people throughout the world.

Our legal system has developed over the centuries to ensure the protection of fundamental rights by enacting, administering and enforcing fair, clear, publicized and stable laws. The laws are upheld by diverse, competent, independent and ethical law enforcement officials, advocates and judges. This foundation of the rule of law is essential to fostering sustainable communities of opportunity and equity. It is the basis for the work of judge advocates and other Air Force attorneys every day.

It is now our responsibility in the 21st Century to further enduring traditions of legal excellence and continue this great system of ours against emerging challenges. By initiating dialogue on various legal issues during this Law Day 2010 celebration, we will learn about the principles and values that characterize the rule of law and how it matters in the everyday lives of Americans and others throughout the world.

We all have a stake in the rule of law, and we can all do our part to strengthen it. I encourage you to join with me this month in working to advance understanding of the rule of law during the Law Day 2010 celebration.