As the Soviet Union's Army marched around the Kremlin during its May Day Parade 50 years ago, President Dwight Eisenhower declared May 1, 1958, Law Day to contrast the USSR's rule by force with the the United States' rule by law.
The rule of law first brought the American government into the political spotlight when the U.S. became the first nation to peacefully transfer power from one government to another.
“It's because people have such a respect for this nation's laws that it allows us to function as a country,” said Cayuga County Bar Association president Paul Carbonaro. “Even with the (George W.) Bush government, half the country wasn't happy when he won against Al Gore but they respected the results of the law.”
That respect grew out of an evolving rule of law which had been built since its time as a British colony. A country's laws do not mean anything if they are not enforced on everyone, Carbonaro said.
Carbonaro said this year's Law Day theme would be the rule of law and the foundation of equality it could create throughout society.
“That applies to the different inherent rights we have to be treated equally,” Carbonaro said. “The laws in effect have to be enforced to ensure equality. We use to have abstracts in the law that would prevent people of a certain race from owning a house in a certain area for example. A lot of times we already had laws on the book to prevent these actions but we didn't enforce them. These laws often ensured the right to an education, job, housing and even sports with Title IX.”
Auburn City Judge Michael McKeon said the Bill of Rights were the primary articles for ensuring the fair treatment of Americans.
“Many of the Bill of Rights came directly from the unfair practices of the British crown on the colonists,” McKeon said. “An example is the British army could get a general warrant to conduct an illegal search and seizure without probable cause. I really think the Bill of Rights is a working example of our rule of law.”
Carbonaro added if certain laws were never enforced, life could have been different for his three daughters.
“I really appreciate the equality in education and funding of sports,” Carbonaro said. “I got to see my daughters participate in college athletics and 30 years ago they wouldn't have gotten to do that.”
While lawyers and other legal professionals are often the butt of jokes, Roberta Williams, the Law Day chairperson for the CCBA, said Law Day was important because of how important the American law system is and how well it can work.
“It's been effective for the citizens and its been used as a model to the world,” Williams said.
This year, to help students acquire a better understanding of the law, McKeon will speak to classes at Auburn High School and Cato-Meridian Central School.
McKeon believes it's important for students to understand the rule of law and how it helps maintain a free society.
“We all live under some type of law because everything in society is governed by law in some form,” he said.
But the educational outreach programs do not end after Law Day. Several Cayuga County law firms have a job shadow program with BOCES to bring in New Vision students interested in pursuing a legal career.
Williams said interest may not be as high if the law community did not actively engage residents.
The New Vision students will also be invited to an annual Cayuga County Bar Association Law Day luncheon held at the Springside Inn. The luncheon allows the law community to get together and welcome new members into the organization and listen to a guest speaker discuss a topic on the Law Day theme.
This year's speaker will be Thomas Maroney, a Syracuse University law professor and former United States District Attorney for New York. Maroney's speech is expected to focus on the impact of the rule of law on society.
Without the rules of law, Carbonaro said American government could have a different landscape.
“Lawyers are trying to make the community aware of the law so people will take a moment to think about how important the law is in our society,” he said. “Without law there would be anarchy.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
“It's because people have such a respect for this nation's laws that it allows us to function as a country,” said Cayuga County Bar Association president Paul Carbonaro. “Even with the (George W.) Bush government, half the country wasn't happy when he won against Al Gore but they respected the results of the law.”
That respect grew out of an evolving rule of law which had been built since its time as a British colony. A country's laws do not mean anything if they are not enforced on everyone, Carbonaro said.
Carbonaro said this year's Law Day theme would be the rule of law and the foundation of equality it could create throughout society.
“That applies to the different inherent rights we have to be treated equally,” Carbonaro said. “The laws in effect have to be enforced to ensure equality. We use to have abstracts in the law that would prevent people of a certain race from owning a house in a certain area for example. A lot of times we already had laws on the book to prevent these actions but we didn't enforce them. These laws often ensured the right to an education, job, housing and even sports with Title IX.”
Auburn City Judge Michael McKeon said the Bill of Rights were the primary articles for ensuring the fair treatment of Americans.
“Many of the Bill of Rights came directly from the unfair practices of the British crown on the colonists,” McKeon said. “An example is the British army could get a general warrant to conduct an illegal search and seizure without probable cause. I really think the Bill of Rights is a working example of our rule of law.”
Carbonaro added if certain laws were never enforced, life could have been different for his three daughters.
“I really appreciate the equality in education and funding of sports,” Carbonaro said. “I got to see my daughters participate in college athletics and 30 years ago they wouldn't have gotten to do that.”
While lawyers and other legal professionals are often the butt of jokes, Roberta Williams, the Law Day chairperson for the CCBA, said Law Day was important because of how important the American law system is and how well it can work.
“It's been effective for the citizens and its been used as a model to the world,” Williams said.
This year, to help students acquire a better understanding of the law, McKeon will speak to classes at Auburn High School and Cato-Meridian Central School.
McKeon believes it's important for students to understand the rule of law and how it helps maintain a free society.
“We all live under some type of law because everything in society is governed by law in some form,” he said.
But the educational outreach programs do not end after Law Day. Several Cayuga County law firms have a job shadow program with BOCES to bring in New Vision students interested in pursuing a legal career.
Williams said interest may not be as high if the law community did not actively engage residents.
The New Vision students will also be invited to an annual Cayuga County Bar Association Law Day luncheon held at the Springside Inn. The luncheon allows the law community to get together and welcome new members into the organization and listen to a guest speaker discuss a topic on the Law Day theme.
This year's speaker will be Thomas Maroney, a Syracuse University law professor and former United States District Attorney for New York. Maroney's speech is expected to focus on the impact of the rule of law on society.
Without the rules of law, Carbonaro said American government could have a different landscape.
“Lawyers are trying to make the community aware of the law so people will take a moment to think about how important the law is in our society,” he said. “Without law there would be anarchy.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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