Law Month Celebrations Include Liberty Bell Award, Student Poster and Essay Contests

The DeKalb Bar Association celebrates Law Day throughout the month of May. Law Day is officially celebrated on May 1 of each year by bar associations, courts, judges, and legal professionals across the country. Law Day was established in 1958 by the American Bar Association to bring attention to the principles and practice of American law and justice. In honor of our nation’s second President, the 2011 Law Day theme is: The Legacy of John Adams from Boston to Guantanamo.

The DeKalb Bar Association began its Law Day celebration in April and its Law Day activities continue throughout the month of May. The DeKalb Bar will present the Liberty Bell Award to a well-deserved recipient. The Liberty Bell Award honors a lay person in our community who encourages community members to respect the laws and legal system and to learn more about and take an active role in our American justice system.

The DeKalb Bar is very excited about continuing its partnership with the DeKalb County School System. On Law Day, local high schools will welcome members of the DeKalb Bar, including practicing attorneys and judges, to speak to students about Law Day and our legal system.

This year, the DeKalb Bar is also sponsoring a poster contest open to 4th and 5th grade students and an essay contest open to all middle school students. The winning entries will be displayed at the Gregory A. Adams Juvenile Justice Center. Thanks to enthusiastic DeKalb County students, teachers, administrators and parents, the DeKalb Bar Association received an overwhelming number of entries, greatly exceeding the number of entries received in recent years. The artists and authors of the winning Law Day poster and essay contest entries will be honored at the DeKalb Bar Association’s luncheon on May 12.

DeKalb County Solicitor-General Sherry Boston will also present the Officer of the Year award to a deserving DeKalb County police officer for outstanding achievement by an officer that brings credit to the department and that involves performance well above and beyond that which is required by an officer’s basic assignment.

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis will issue a proclamation declaring the month of May as law month in DeKalb County.