Winners: Law Day 2005

Program planners around the country took the Law Day 2005 theme "The American Jury: We the People in Action" to heart when coming up with their activities. This year's winners prepared educational films, displays, held mock trials, essay and arts competitions, and more as they educated their audiences about the American jury system. Whether based in a bar association, a school, a court system, or a broad-based group encompassing all these elements, the projects showed creativity in reaching out to students and the public to convey the importance of the rule of law.

Bar Association of Northern San Diego County (California)
A day-long event, Youth in Court, was held on March 11, 2005, and included courthouse tours and an "On My Honor" mock trial in which five hundred elementary and middle school students participated. With the assistance of members of the local bar association, students tried a mock case before actual judges. An afternoon program directed toward high school students provided a Job Fair and a variety of break-out sessions. Over a dozen judges, nearly 50 volunteer lawyers from the Bar, seven elementary and middle schools, and numerous high schools from all over San Diego County participated in the Youth in Court celebration.

City Attorney's Office—Troy, Michigan
In an effort to educate as many people as possible with respect to this year's theme, "The American Jury", the City Attorney's Office prepared an educational film regarding the American jury system. The video provided information concerning all aspects of a jury trial from jury selection to verdict while discussing the importance of the jury system in America. In addition to its debut at the City of Troy Attorney's Law Day reception, it was broadcast three times a week on the City of Troy cable station, WTRY, and was also shown at numerous civic meetings throughout the month. Other activities and highlights included: a Law Day reception; displays in the City of Troy Library and the Troy Museum and Historical Village; and informational postings on the City of Troy's Attorney's website concerning Law Day and this year's theme.

Shreveport Bar Association (Louisiana)
Activities included a community project to help the families of the 500 soldiers from the local Guard unit; securing guest speaker Chief Judge William Young of the U. S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, who is a nationally known speaker of the American jury; a Law Career Forum for students interested in a legal career; Call 3: Ask a Lawyer program; an essay contest for high school students; and the Liberty Bell Award presentation.

Oklahoma Bar Association
Students throughout Oklahoma were given the opportunity to participate in various art and writing contests. Local and state government organizations encouraged citizens to recognize Law Day through various community events. For the 27th year, attorneys offered free legal advice over the phone on April 28, 2005, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Oklahoma Bar Association also produced an hour-long TV show which aired on public television. One segment on the show featured the first group interview with five jurors from the Terry Nichols state trial.

Orange County Bar Association (Florida)
A month-long series of Law Day activities reached thousands of people ranging from elementary students to adults throughout Orange County, Florida. Activities included: poster and essay contests; a series of multi-age level mock trials; partnering with the University of Central Florida for a Naturalization Ceremony for 500 new citizens; partnering with Jury Services at the Orange County Courthouse to display posters; networking and partnering with media, government, and other organizations to extend the impact of the Law Day theme.

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