“And Justice for All” More than Just a Catchy Phrase
Planning for Law Day 2010 activities is already underway. This year's theme in Alabama will be "And Justice for All" with an emphasis on access to justice/pro bono. Co-chairs Holly Alves of Mobile and Ashley E. Swink of Gulf Shores are spearheading the program with assistance from a group of Leadership Forum alumni and presidential appointees who will be working with bar members in their circuit and surrounding circuits to plan and execute the activities.
Members of the Law Day Committee include:
Robert N. Bailey, II, Huntsville
M. Hamp Baxley, Dothan
Ryan G. Brake, Florence
Valerie K. Chittom, Selma
Christy D. Crow, Union Springs
Anne L. Durward, Birmingham
Charles R. Godwin, Atmore
Adrian D. Johnson, Montgomery
Tara W. Lockett, Daphne
Jonathan M. Lusk, Guntersville
David E. Rains, Tuscaloosa
Emily Hawk Raley, Gadsden
Brian P. Strength, Tuskegee
William B. Wahlheim, Jr., Birmingham
Alves said President Methvin wants the committee to help implement outwardly-focused events (such as mock trials, help lines, joining VLPs, etc.) in each circuit that fall in line with his "Access to Justice" theme for the year. Based upon the success of the Pro Bono Week Celebration in October, local bar presidents have been contacted to energize their associations to participate. They will each receive a copy of the Law Day Planning Guide from the American Bar Association which includes tips on how to organize and plan a Law Day program, sample news releases and public service announcements to publicize an event, talking points on how to involve community members, and lesson plans for K-12 students. In essence, Methvin wants to take the Law Day committee's task (including the essay and poster contest) and expand it exponentially to all 41 judicial circuits.
A key feature of the 2010 Law Day celebration will be to try and replicate a unique activity that's held in Escambia County and created by Atmore attorney Charles Godwin. With assistance from the judiciary, court personnel and local lawyers, he has coordinated this nationally-recognized special event for more than 20 years. In that program, high school seniors in the six major schools serve as jurors and/or otherwise participate in real criminal trials. Members of the bar go into the schools and speak to the seniors about jury duty and the specific issues involved in the trial of criminal cases and judicial proceedings in general. A deputy sheriff serves summonses on the high school students for jury duty. They appear at the Escambia County Courthouse at the appointed time. After the seniors are seated in the courtroom, opening remarks are given by the president of the Escambia County Bar Association. After some additional presentations, the pre-selected jurors are impaneled and serve. While that jury is deliberating following the trial, a question-and-answer session is conducted by one of the judges with the remaining seniors in the audience. The attorneys are introduced prior to the commencement of the trials on each of the two days that this event is conducted.
Local bar presidents are encouraged to have the schools in their area take part in the poster contest. Last year, the bar received more than 400 posters and essays from throughout the state. The poster contest is open to grades K-6 and the essay contest is geared for students in grades 7-12. A total of $1,500 in U.S. Savings bonds will be awarded to winners. Teachers of winning students also receive a monetary gift for use in the classroom. Contest rules and information will be posted on the ASB Web site (www.alabar.org) in January.
