FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 28, 2016

Law Day Celebrations Planned in Courthouses Across the State          

In recognition of Law Day 2016, students across the Commonwealth will participate in educational activities teaching them more about the law and the judicial branch of government, and will have an opportunity to interact with judges, lawyers, law clerks and other court officials.

Law Day was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 as a day to recognize the principles of government under the law, and the nation’s rich heritage of liberty and justice. Celebrations commemorating Law Day take place every May in courthouses throughout Massachusetts and the United States.                          

The following courts will have activities on Friday, April 29:

• John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  The theme of the day will be "Miranda: More than Words." A total of about 100 students from Fenway High School and Cathedral High School will participate in activities at the Supreme Judicial Court, including a Theatre Espresso play entitled Justice at War. Supreme Judicial Court Law Clerk Society volunteers will lead students through educational exercises that encourage in-depth discussions on current legal topics that illustrate and emphasize the Law Day theme. Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants, and SJC Associate Justices Margot Botsford and Geraldine S. Hines will speak with the students and answer questions about the judicial branch.
• Fenton Judicial Center, 2 Appleton Street, Lawrence, Courtroom 4, 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Hosted by the Lawrence Bar Association, the Lawrence District Court at the Fenton Judicial Center will celebrate Law Day 2016 with a speech contest featuring high school students from local schools on the topic "Miranda: More than Words."
• Middlesex Juvenile Court – Lowell, 89 Appleton Street, Lowell, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.  Hosted by the Lowell Bar Association, the day’s events will feature a speech contest and lunch at the courthouse. Lawyers and judges from all courts will take part in a classroom program in all 8^th grade Lowell Public Schools classrooms during the morning. First Justice Jay Blitzman and Judge Patricia Flynn will preside over courtroom festivities, which will feature essay and poster contests.  Those expected to attend the day’s events include Juvenile Court Chief Justice Amy L. Nechtem and Lowell Mayor Rodney M. Elliott.

• Plymouth Trial Court, 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Hosted by the Plymouth County Bar Association, the theme of the day will be "Miranda: More than Words." The day-long program involves approximately 150 local high school students, who will participate in a variety of activities including a mock trial that are designed to educate about the rule of law in an evolving democratic society, and highlight the American justice system. District Court Chief Justice Paul C. Dawley will speak during the morning portion of the program.

The following courts will have activities on Monday, May 2

• Fall River District Court, 186 South Main Street, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.. The court is hosting its "Miranda: More than Words" Law Day event with the Fall River Bar Association. Local middle school students will visit the courthouse and participate in an essay contest, hear presentations by the bar president, Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, and a prosecutor. Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia will present a Law Day proclamation. The Thomas McGovern, Esquire, Scholarship is also presented to a deserving law school student.  The students will also participate in a mock trial with a script written by the Fall River Bar. First Justice Gilbert J. Nadeau will preside as the judge and two attorneys from the district attorney's office will play the roles of the prosecutor and defense attorney.

• Essex County Juvenile Court-Lynn, 139 Central Avenue, 8:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.. The court will hold its annual Law Day celebration with Juvenile Court Chief Justice Amy L. Nechtem and First Justice Mark Newman hosting festivities, which will include an essay contest with high school students from St. Mary’s and Lynn English participating, and art project displays on Miranda rights by Fecteau-Leary School students. Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy will kick off the program by declaring Law Day.
• Plymouth County Juvenile Court-Brockton at the Covett Courthouse, 72 Belmont Street, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.. The Plymouth County Juvenile Court in Brockton, together with the Plymouth County Bar Association will hold its Law Day celebration joining all courts in the Covett Courthouse. First Justice Kathryn White will preside over festivities.
• Fall River Juvenile Court, 289 Rock Street, Main Courtroom, 4^th floor, 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.. First Justice John Spinale will host Law Day festivities, which will honor the history of the Juvenile Court Department and its retired First Justices on the 50^th anniversary of the Gault Case. The afternoon will include a portrait unveiling of retired First Justice Bettina Borders, who will be in attendance, as well as the Hon. Ronald D. Harper, the Hon. Thomas Quinn, and the Hon. James M. Cronin.

  The following courts will have activities on Tuesday, May 3:

• Quincy District Court, One Dennis Ryan Parkway, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Robert A. DeLeo will deliver the keynote Law Day address. Those in attendance will include Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey, District Court Chief Justice Paul C. Dawley, and Trial Court Administrator Harry Spence.
• Framingham District Court, 600 Concord Street, will celebrate its first annual Law Day with a keynote address by former Senator and Chief of Staff for Gov. Deval Patrick, William “Mo” Cowen. Writing contest on the theme of Miranda rights will be held for high school students sponsored by the local bar association. Cash prizes for 1^st through 3^rd place essay contest winners are in honor of the late Judge Robert V. Greco, who presided at that court. First Justice David W. Cunis will preside over the festivities.

The following courts will have activities on Friday, May 6:

• Wrentham District Court, 60 East Street, First Session Courtroom, 9:30 a.m., Festivities will include the State Police Honor Guard, performances by the Medway High School Band, Boston Police Gaelic Column Pipes & Drums, and a keynote speech by hockey Hall of Famer and Olympian Jim Craig. District Court Chief Justice Paul C. Dawley will also speak at the event.

• Boston Municipal Court-Brighton, 52 Academy Hill Road, 10:30 a.m., theme of Law Day will be "Celebrate Your Freedom - Assuring Justice for All." Essay and poster contest, special scholarship and awards presentations, including the 11^th Annual Honorable Albert H. Burns scholarship award. Attorney Richard Dyer will present a special award in honor of the Hon. Charles Artesani. 
• Boston Municipal Court-West Roxbury, 85 Warren Street, 10:00 a.m., theme: "Get Out and Vote: Why Voting is Important," more than 100 Boston public & private school students who have participated in the Court's Straight Ahead Program throughout the year from the Charles Sumner School and Wolfgang Mozart School in Roslindale and the Holy Name Parish School in West Roxbury. There will be a poster & essay contest for students based on our Law Day. There will be a special awards presentation of the Diane Halperin Award to the Home for Little Wanderers. Keynote speaker will be David Brown, former WCVB-TV meteorologist and most recently Chief Advancement Officer to the Aid to the Blind. Outdoor activities will include the Boston Police Department’s K-9 unit, Boston Fire Department fire truck, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, and the State Police Underwater Recovery Unit. 
• Hingham District Court, 28 George Washington Blvd., 9:30 a.m., First Justice Heather M.S. Bradley will preside over the  Hingham District Court Law Day ceremony, which will include poster and essay contests. The Liberty Bell Award will be presented to William Leonard, Esq. who has retired from his law practice after 45 years of dedicated service. 

The following will have activities on May 11:

Boston Municipal Court-East Boston, 37 Meridian Street, from 5:30 p.m. First Justice John M. McDonald will preside over a Law Day Mock Trial, followed by Law Day Awards Ceremony starting at 5:30 p.m. in the First Session Courtroom.

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
John Adams Courthouse
One Pemberton Square
Boston, Massachusetts  02108
MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT:  Jennifer Donahue/Erika Gully-Santiago                   

617/557-1114                                                                                     

jennifer.donahue@sjc.state.ma.us