Douglas County Kansas Bar Association

LAW DAY

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower made the first Law Day Proclamation to strengthen our great heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under the law. Charles S. Rhyne, then president of the American Bar Association, delivered a Law Day speech in a radio broadcast for Voice of America on the first Law Day, May 1, 1958. In 1961, May 1 was designated by Joint Resolution of Congress as the official date for celebrating Law Day, U.S.A.

Each Law Day is built around a central theme. Programs and ideas spurred by the theme make Law Day informative and fun for students, the legal community, and the community at large. Read more about Law Day at the American Bar Association website, including an address given on Law Day 2000 by Charles Rhyne describing how Law Day began.

LIBERTY BELL AWARD

The Liberty Bell Award acknowledges outstanding community service. It is given to recognize a person who has promoted better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged a greater respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, and contributed to good government in the community. The awards are made by individual Law Day programs, not by the American Bar Association.

DOUGLAS COUNTY LAW DAY

The 2008 Law Day banquet at Maceli's Banquet Hall featured a presentation by Katherine Kirk on "The Rule of Law in Jordanian Society". Along with a slide presentation, Kathy described her three months in Jordan as a volunteer in the ABA's Rule of Law Initiative, a public service project of the American Bar Association dedicated to promoting the rule of law around the world. Marianne Schroer, a senior at Baldwin High School, was awarded a $1,100.00 scholarship for her winning essay in the Douglas County Legal Essay Contest. The 2008 Liberty Bell Award was presented to Karen Warner for her work in the Douglas County United Way. The United Way has provided assistance for several programs of interest to the courts and the bar in Douglas County, including CASA, Ballard Community Services, Big Brothers/BigSisters, Success By 6 Coalition and others.

The 2007 Law Day banquet was again held at Maceli's Banquet Hall, 1031 New Hampshire Street in Lawrence on May 1, 2007. The keynote address was presented by retired Shawnee County District Court Judge Hon. Terry Bullock on this year's Law Day theme: Liberty Under the Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy. Prof. Joyce McCray-Pearson of the Kansas University School of Law was the 2007 recipient of the Liberty Bell Award. Prof. McCray-Pearson is director of the KU Law Library, and teaches Law & Literature and Advanced Legal Research at the Law School. She was instrumental in establishing the Douglas County Law Library, housed at the Judicial Center, which provides legal research tools and resources to local judges, lawyers and the community. Following the library's launch on May 1, 2003, she has continued to advise the board, contributing her talents and abilities to the continuing growth and vitality of the library. Her commitment and passion for education, and her efforts to promote better understanding of the law by making research tools and resources available to all, made her a worthy recipient of the Liberty Bell Award.

Law Day 2006 was held on May 1, 2006 at Maceli's Banquet Hall, 1031 New Hampshire St. in Lawrence. The Law Day 2006 theme was Liberty Under Law: Separate Branches, Balanced Powers. Attendees were treated to a presentation by Lawrence attorney and State Representative Paul Davis. Joyce Grover was the recipient of the Liberty Bell Award.

Law Day 2005 was held on May 2, 2005 at Maceli's Banquet Hall, 1031 New Hampshire St. in Lawrence. The 2005 Law Day theme was "The American Jury: We the People in Action". Attendees were treated to a presentation by Pedro Irigonegaray, a prominent litigator. In addition to remarks about the role of the jury in democracy, he had a few things to say about the debate over evolution vs. "intelligent design" in Kansas public school curricula. Justice Robert L. Gernon, the speaker at the 2004 Law Day banquet, was the posthumous recipient of the Liberty Bell Award. Justice Gernon died on March 30, 2005.

Law Day 2004 was organized by the Young Lawyers Section of the Douglas County Bar Association, Hatem B. Chahine, President. The event was held on May 3, 2004 at Marceli's Banquet Hall, 1031 New Hampshire St., Lawrence, Kansas, with over 65 in attendance. The 2004 Law Day theme was "To Win Equity by Law: Brown v. Board at 50". Justice Robert L. Gernon of the Kansas Supreme Court was the featured speaker. The event was highlighted by the presentation of the Liberty Bell Award to co-recipients Sammie Jo Conder and Sherrill L. Catt, Supervisors of the Douglas County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program.

Law Day 2003, whose theme was "Celebrate Your Freedom -- Independent Courts Protect Our Liberties", was organized by the Young Lawyers Section under the leadership of Angela Stoller. The Liberty Bell Award was presented to Diane Simpson, attorney at the firm of Stevens & Brand, Lawrence, Kansas.

The Law Day 2000 recipient of the Liberty Bell award was Lynne Green, founder of the Van Go Mobile Arts programs. Van Go Mobile Arts, Inc. is an arts-based social service agency that uses the creative process to build inner resources and deter high risk behaviors in young people. Using community support services and teaching-artists, Van Go programs provide life-enhancing opportunities for youth, ages 8-18, with after-school and summer programs. The 2000 Law Day theme was: "Celebrate Your Freedom: Speak Up for Democracy and Diversity".

Melissa Masoner received the Liberty Bell Award in 1998, in recognition of her work establishing KidsVoting across the state. State Representative Barbara Ballard was given the 1996 Liberty Bell Award for her activities in the community and the Legislature. The 1996 Law Day was reported in the Lawrence Journal-World. Hon. Jean F. Shepherd, Judge of Division 3 of the Douglas County District Court, received the Liberty Bell Award in 1992. Other Liberty Bell Award recipients include Nancy Hughes, Judith W. Osborn (now Judith W. Anderson - a member of the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission), and John William Hamilton, District Court bailiff from 1973 to 1994. Mr. Hamilton died at age 90 in 2001.