New York Court of Appeals Contact: Marjorie S. McCoy, Deputy Clerk New York Court of Appeals 20 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207 E-mail:mmccoy@pppmail.applied.theory.com Activity Summary: Each year, the New York Court of Appeals hosts a Law Day celebration at Court of Appeals Hall attended by State officials, the Bar and the public. The Governor, the Attorney General and the President of the State Bar Association are invited to speak. This year, the Court of Appeals chose to mark the 1998 Law Day theme "Celebrate our Freedom" "by recognizing the responsibility we owe future generations to pass our cherished inheritance on to them."1 Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye had invited students from nine high school law-related education programs to participate in an essay, poetry and art contest on the topic "If I Were Chief Judge of the State of New York..." The ten winners, their parents and teachers were accorded a place of honor at the Court’s 1998 Law Day ceremony which took place under bright sunshine on the Courthouse steps. The Law Day program booklet included the work and biographies of the ten winning students, as well as information about all the law-related programs participating in the contest. Prior to the ceremony, a local middle school band played "The Star Spangled Banner" and other traditional music. The Chief Judge’s speech recognized the efforts of all contest professional teaching about the basic concepts relating to courts and law."2 Following the Law Day ceremony, the Judges of the Court of Appeals feted the contest winners, their parents and teachers at a private luncheon in Court of Appeals Hall. More than 500 copies of the Law Day program booklet have been distributed -- to all students who entered the contest, attendees at the ceremony, the State Commissioner of Education, and the Chancellor of the New York City School System. Through the New York State Depository program, 200 additional copies of the booklet were distributed to depository libraries throughout the State, creating ongoing bibliophile access to the document through "Excelsior" -- the New York State Library’s online catalog -- and the New York State Documents Checklist. The booklet is also posted on the New York State Unified Court Systems website. Finally, the program booklet will be distributed to students who tour Court of Appeals Hall. The Court of Appeals 1998 Law Day program and booklet highlighted the crucial role of educational in preserving the rule of law. The message was heard by State officials, members of the Bar, students, teachers, parents and the media. The Chief Judge will use this event as the centerpiece of a continued dialogue on law-related education with the New York State Bar Association and the Commissioner of Education. 1Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye, Welcome, 1998 Law Day Program Booklet. 2Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye, Law Day Remarks, May 1, 1998 Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization