Law Day! American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters

Law Day is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share. It also provides an opportunity to recognize the role of courts in this democracy and the importance of jury service to maintaining the integrity of the courts.

Each year, a theme is chosen to spotlight a particular aspect of the rule of law or legal process. As we approach the 50th anniversaries of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, this year’s Law Day theme is American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters. This theme is a reminder to every American to reflect on the importance of a citizen’s right to vote and the challenges we still face in ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to participate in our democracy.

May 1st is the official date of Law Day, and the Rockefeller Center is excited to celebrate this year with a public lecture and panel. David Cole, the Hon. George J. Mitchell Professor in Law and Public Policy at the Georgetown University Law Center, will be the guest speaker for a lecture entitled, “Can President Obama End the War on Terror?” Joining David on the panel entitled “Preserving Liberty and Security in Fighting Terrorism: Lessons from the Past, Challenges for the Future” will be Daniel Benjamin, the Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding, and Katharine Gelber, a professor of Public Policy at the University of Queensland.

Please join us on Thursday, May 1st for the public Law Day lecture, “Can President Obama End the War on Terror?” with David Cole at 4:30 PM in Rocky 003 as well as the public panel on Friday, May 2nd, “Preserving Liberty and Security in Fighting Terrorism: Lessons from the Past, Challenges for the Future” at 12:30pm in Haldeman 041.