April 2008 Nevada Lawyer
THE RULE OF LAW: FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITIES OF OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITY
BY JASMINE K. MEHTA, YOUNG LAWYERS CHAIR
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Law Day, proclaimed by President Eisenhower in 1958 as a “day of national dedication to the principle of government under law.” Law Day was meant to educate the public and celebrate the importance of how the legal process has contributed to the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans.
Every year, to celebrate Law Day (May 1), the Young Lawyers Section sponsors the Roger Foley Poster and Essay Contest. The contest is open to all Nevada grade school and high school students. They may submit either a poster or an essay on a theme selected by the American Bar Association. The theme varies from year to year, but typically addresses the importance of law and the legal process in our lives.
The YLS advertises the contest to school districts around the state. Students are asked to submit a poster or an essay addressing the topic of the year. Winners are selected from each grade based on the substance of their entries.
The YLS hosts an award ceremony both in Las Vegas and Reno to honor the award winners. The children’s excitement is contagious, and the YLS volunteers really enjoy judging the entries and attending the awards ceremony.
The topic selected by the ABA this year is the “Rule of Law: Foundations for Communities of Opportunity and Equity.” When I first reviewed the theme, my initial thought was that it might be too weighty a topic for children and young adults to address. Visions of war-torn countries, where the rule of law is often subverted by corruption, came to mind.
Having traveled to many of these countries, I became very aware of what the rule of law means to our freedom as Americans. The strength of our republic lies in the public’s collective decision to abide by the rule of law. When you have lived and traveled in countries where the rule of law is trodden by military or dictatorial regimes, you become aware of just how extraordinary and important this collective decision is.
It is because we have a system of self-government, stable laws and a strong and accessible legal process to enforce those laws that our constitutional freedoms have retained their strength. The judiciary is a power that has retained the respect of those who participate in the judicial process. And although there are often complaints that the wheels of justice grind slowly, the speed of our judicial system compared to that of other countries is remarkable.
The rule of law affects every member of our respective communities. It affects nearly every aspect of how we live our lives – from our work environments to our safety, health and education. Something as mundane as driving a car requires us to abide by the rule of law. Without the rule of law, instead of smoothly moving lanes of cars, we would be forced to commute through a chaotic tangle of autos, bicycles and pedestrians, none of which would respect the right of way of others.
We all have a stake in maintaining the rule of law. As President Lyndon B. Johnson stated, “all those who cherish freedom should also cherish law. Liberty and law abide together. In that bond is the foundation of our liberties.”
Because it is so important, this is exactly the sort of theme to which students should be exposed in order to generate discussion and thought about the power of the rule of law to maintain our freedoms. Too often, we take the rule of law for granted, not thinking of the great responsibility that is placed on our collective shoulders to abide by the rule of law, lest it disintegrate, and with it our liberties.
I hope that Law Day on May 1 will create an opportunity for you to reflect on the role of the rule of law in your life. And if you have school-aged children, the YLS volunteers look forward to receiving their contest entries this year.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at jmehta@lrlaw.com.