Today is Law Day - May 1, 2017!!! This year's theme is "The 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy"

Every year on May 1st, we celebrate the role of law in our society by recognizing Law Day. It’s been around since 1958, when President Eisenhower marked the nation’s commitment to the rule of law (by, you guessed it, Executive Order).  In 1961, Congress – by joint resolution – designated May 1 as the official Law Day day. (you can look it up: 36 U.S.C. Section 113).   

This year, we focus on the absolutely amazing 14th Amendment. It turns 150 years old in 2018. Let’s just take a minute to contemplate its impact: it granted citizenship to anyone born or naturalized here, prohibited states from depriving any person of life, liberty of property without due process of law, and granted us equal protection of the law. It also provided the legal mechanism to enforce the Bill of Rights against the states. And if that wasn’t mind-blowing enough, now think of all the court decisions that rest firmly on the broad shoulders of the 14th Amendment (and yes, there are both good decisions and bad decisions – but I’ll let you all figure out which is which).   

 So, to quote Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Raise a glass to Freedom” when you go home tonight and celebrate the 14th Amendment! 

-Natalie

PS - I offer no apology for my Legal Geekness.