This year on May 1st our very own Brian Patten, Hannah Kilson, Colette Irving, Caroline Santilli and Steve Nolan gathered to re-swear their oath to uphold the rule of law and our state and national Constitutions.  As additional enticement, the incomparable retired Supreme Judicial Court Clerk Maura Doyle came out of retirement to swear them all in again at the Boston Common Bandstand. 

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Law Day was established by President Eisenhower in 1958 to celebrate the rule of law in a free society.  In 1961, Congress designated May 1 as its official date. The President of the United States has issued a Law Day proclamation recognizing the importance of the rule of law every year since 1958.

 

For example, in 2000, President Clinton wrote “The freedom of America's citizens is sustained by American law. In crafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, our Nation's founders wisely understood that liberty and law are equally important to ensuring human rights and preserving human dignity. Law without freedom becomes tyranny; freedom without law becomes chaos.”

 

In 2008, on the 50th anniversary of Law Day, President George W. Bush lauded the theme of that year’s Law Day, "The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity," by recognizing “the fundamental role that the rule of law plays in preserving liberty in our Nation and in all free societies. We pay tribute to the men and women in America's legal community. Through hard work and dedication to the rule of law, members of the judiciary and the legal profession help secure the rights of individuals, bring justice to our communities, and reinforce the proud traditions that make America a beacon of light for the world.”