North Carolina Bar Association Contact: Shawn D. Mercer, Law Week Committee Co-Chair North Carolina Bar Association P.O. Box 1776, Raleigh, NC 27602 E-mail: smercer@interpath.com Activity Summary: "The First Official Race to the Courthouse Fun Run" simulated the appeal process for a lawsuit. Runners carried a complaint to the county courthouse. The complaint was dismissed. Runners then took the dismissed complaint to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court for action. The courts affirmed the complaint dismissal. Runners then obtained a Bill from the State Legislature which granted the relief complained about in the complaint. Runners crossed the finish line with the Bill in hand. Proceeds from the race went to the Elizabeth Dunn White Justice Fund. Activity Narrative: Our Law Week Committee devised and implemented the "First Official Race to the Courthouse Fun Run" which was held on May 1, 1997 in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The event was sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division as part of its celebration of Law Week 1997. The run, which was approximately three miles in length, simulated the appeal process for a lawsuit. All runners were required to start the run with a complaint to the Wake County Courthouse for filing and action. Wake County District Court Judges were stationed outside the Courthouse to dismiss the complaint. Runners were then required to take the dismissed complaint to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and then to the North Carolina Supreme Court for action by both courts. Justices were set up outside of both courts to affirm the dismissal of the complaint. The runners were then required to run to the North Carolina General Assembly to obtain a Bill, which granted the relief complained about in the complaint. Runners were then required to run and cross the finish line with the Bill in hand. Individual awards were given to the top male and female runners overall, the first two male and female runners under 40 years old, and to the first two male and female finishers over 40 years old. Team awards were given to the first team based upon the finish places of all team runners, the first all female team to finish, and awards were given to the first team of lawyers, judges, or individuals that work in a legal profession. Teams consisted of three individuals. T-shirts were provided to runners. Seventy-five shirts were initially ordered. An additional 200 shirts were ordered prior to the event. An entry fee of $5.00 was charged, with all proceeds going directly to the Elizabeth Dunn White Justice Fund. A post-run celebration was held at a nearby eatery and pub following the race. The post-run celebration was cosponsored by the Wake County Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division. The "Race to the Courthouse" concept was designed to expand public awareness of the rule of law by simulating the appeal process for a lawsuit. The activity sought to highlight the theme of "Celebrate Your Freedom" by demonstrating every citizen's access to the justice system. The Law Week Committee worked well with the North Carolina Bar Association, its Young Lawyers Division as well as with the Wake County Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Division. The "First Official Race to the Courthouse Fun Run" was well received by the public and possesses great promise for becoming a major annual event. The potential for substantial community impact is great. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization