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Montgomery, Alabama, April 19, 2011 – As the nation celebrates Law Day, a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law, the Alabama State Bar announced the winners of this year's Law Day competition for both primary and secondary school students.

State Bar President Alyce M. Spruell of Northport (Spruell & Powell LLC) said, "How exciting that more than 200 students from across the state explored the historical and contemporary role of lawyers like our first lawyer President, John Adams. Through essays, designing social media content or through art displays, the students gave voice to the "Life and Legacy of John Adams," this year's National Law Day theme.

Spruell noted Adams earned his reputation as a staunch advocate for the rule of law by defending unpopular causes like the British soldiers involved in the Boston massacre. Even though he was a zealous patriot, his love of the law and the rule of law inspired him to take a case no one else would handle. "This example helps us to renew the understanding of and appreciation for the fundamental principles of the rule of law, she said."

Traditionally, the competition has been restricted to using posters and essays to creatively interpret the theme. However, this year's competition included two new categories focusing on the use of social media. Students were encouraged to design a theoretical facebook page for John Adams or "tweet" about his role as a lawyer in society.

This year's participants had to make the connection between the rule of law, the role of a lawyer, the need for an independent judicial system, and how all of these fundamental American principles affect our citizens' daily lives. "In my opinion, this is a great way for these students to learn about the importance of being engaged citizens and why protecting the rule of law in our society is so important to our way of life, she said."

Students from one school, Brewbaker Technology Magnet School, took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place honors in the social media category for facebook. They created facebook pages based on John Adams' representation of the British officer and soldiers charged with firing into a crowd of protestors and killing five civilians in the "Boston Massacre."

Winners will be recognized Friday, April 29 at a special ceremony to be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Alabama Supreme Court. Following the presentation of awards by Judge David A. Rains, Ninth Judicial Circuit, Ft. Payne, students and their guests will be treated to a special luncheon at the State Bar Center.

The poster and essay contests are divided into two categories – grades K-6 for posters; grades 7-12 for essays. Winners in the essay and social media categories receive U.S. Savings Bonds in the amounts of $200, $150 and $100 respectively; winners in the poster contest receive bonds in the amounts of $125, $100 and $75.

All winners receive engraved gold medals and award certificates. Schools of all winners receive certificates and teachers of the winners receive a $25 contribution per award for use in their classrooms.

Judges for the contest were: Law Day Committee Co-chairs Ashley Swink, Gulf Shores (Phelps Dunbar LLP); David K. Rains, Tuscaloosa (Rosen Harwood PA); Tommy Klinner, Montgomery  (Ala. Dept. of Mental Health & Retardation); Tim Lewis, director, state Law Library; Carl Salle, Montgomery (Legal Services Alabama); Craig Baab, Montgomery (Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, Inc.); Alvin Benn, columnist, The Montgomery Advertiser and Jeremy McIntire, Office of the General Counsel, Alabama State Bar.

The 16,600-member Alabama State Bar is dedicated to improving the administration of justice, and increasing public understanding and respect for the law.