Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Jennifer Chait (212) 788-2958
Joined by Justices from the around the City and State, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today proclaimed May 1st "Law Day 1998" and celebrated the day as an opportunity to expand awareness of our heritage, laws and justice system. This year's ceremony honors the freedom and the basic protections that assure all Americans a fair trial.
Joining the Mayor at today's ceremony were Edward Greenfield, New York State Supreme Court Justice and Law Day Chairman; Stephen Crane, Administrative Judge, Civil Division; Juanita Bing Newton, Administrative Judge, Criminal Branch; Beatrice Shainswit, Chair, Board of Justices; Joan Vermeulen, Executive Director, NY Lawyers for the Public Interest; David Leebron, Dean of Columbia Law School; and Rosalind Fink, President, New York County Lawyers' Association.
"It's wonderful to be here with you to celebrate the greatest legal system in the world and to spread an understanding of and appreciation for our legal heritage to people throughout New York," the Mayor said. "There are thousands of subtle ways that we interact with the law every day. Whether it is better law enforcement that has helped make the City a safer place or civil rights protections or the Bill of Rights, we learn valuable lessons, and help shape the system through our participation.
"Today, we celebrate the law and celebrate our freedom," the Mayor continued. "As Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1816, 'The most sacred of the duties of a government is to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens,' we recognize that law affects everyone and is the foundation of our civil and moral society. It is in this spirit that I proclaim today, "Law Day 1998" and honor the celebration of freedom."
To reach the goal of broadening the understanding of the law by citizens, Law Day offers educational programs and activities to build citizenship and a shared concept of justice.