Connecticut Judges
Commemorate Law Day 2007
“Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring
Democracy”
Twenty-two Connecticut judges recently commemorated Law Day by speaking
at high schools and elementary schools across the state. Law Day, which
was created in 1957 by American Bar Association President Charles S.
Rhyne, was established to strengthen our great heritage of liberty,
justice and equality. It also provides an opportunity to recognize the
role of the courts in our democratic system of government. On May 1st, 1961, a
joint resolution of Congress officially designated May 1 as Law Day.
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This year’s Law Day
theme was “Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring
Democracy.” Many judges choose to focus their remarks
on the importance of public service, learning more about the
respective branches of government, and sharing their experiences on
the bench with the students. According to Appellate Court Judge
Alexandra D. DiPentima, who visited New Milford High School, “The
students and teachers were mostly interested in the daily life of a
judge, how one becomes a judge, the decision making process and the
specific cases that I found particularly difficult or unusual.”
In her visit with the
students of St. Martin de Porre Academy, a parochial school in
greater New Haven, Judge Maureen Keegan had the students create a
“trial” of Goldilocks. The young students played the roles of
attorneys, witnesses, and jurors. Judge Keegan noted that, “This is
something I did for my kids’ classes back in elementary school and
(it) works as a teaching tool.”
Law Day was a
particularly busy period for Judge Barbara Bellis who spoke to
students at Norwalk High School, Wilton High School, All Saints High
School in Norwalk, Springdale School and Rogers Magnet School in
Stamford, and Driscoll Elementary School in Wilton. She noted that,
“It was very rewarding to be part of the celebration.”
Judge Edward Domnarski
spoke to students at his alma mater, Ledyard High School. He added a
historical perspective to his remarks. “I tied in the Cold War
origins of Law Day with events that were taking place when I
attended Ledyard High School, in the 1960’s,” said Domnarski. “I
also used the empowering youth theme to stress the importance of
being aware of how the judicial system and other branches of
government function.”
Thanks to the efforts of
our judges, more than 2,200 students had the rare opportunity to
meet and learn from them this past Law Day. A debt of gratitude is
owed to all who participated.
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