May 1 is recognized by many as May Day or International Worker’s Day, but it is also National Law Day in the United States.
Established by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958, Law Day celebrates the rule of law in a democracy, affirms the importance of America’s judicial system, and allows Americans to gain a deeper understanding of the legal system.
The Kings County Supreme Court celebrated Law Day with a slight delay on May 8 in the Central Jury Room of the New York State Supreme Court at 360 Adams St. in Downtown Brooklyn. The event was hosted by Administrative Judges Matthew J. D’Emic and Lawrence S. Knipel, who told Brooklyn Paper that the event was about learning how the judiciary works in a democratic context.
“I’ve ‘only’ been working in a court system for 45 years now, and [Law Day] means everything to me,” Knipel said.
This year’s Law Day theme, “Voices of Democracy,” recognizes that in democracies, “government is of the people, by the people, for the people.” The theme also addresses the threats democracy in the United States faces, particularly during a presidential election year when Americans, influenced by a barrage of far-right wing and far-left wing misinformation and propaganda, are more divided than ever.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez told Brooklyn Paper that Law Day recognizes the importance of the rules of law and to understand that the court system protected democracy and vice versa.
“Many people are concerned about the state of our democracy. When you have any event like today, and you see the diversity that’s in this bench, and you see that it represents all of us,” Gonzalez said. “I think it goes a long way in showing our constituents, our residents of this great city, that democracy is alive and well in our judiciary, and we should have confidence, and we have to continue to support the rule of law and justice.”
The official part of the ceremony began with a procession of the court justices and judges entering the Central Jury Room, followed by the presentation of the colors by the ceremonial unit of the New York State Court Officers Association, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a rendition of the National Anthem, sung by Robert Sandusky III.
Speakers included the Chief Judge of the State of New York and the Court of Appeals, the Hon. Rowan D. Wilson, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Of New York City, the Hon. Deborah Kaplan, Administrative Judge of the Criminal Courts of the City of New York, the Hon. Tamiko Amaker, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, President-elect of the New York State Bar Association, Dominic Napoletano, and retired Surrogate Court Judge, the Hon. Frank Seddio.
The Hon. Tamiko Amaker said Law Day honors “the bedrock principles upon which our democracy stands,” and emphasized that in a climate of division and discord, it was more crucial than ever to reaffirm a commitment to the ideals of democracy.
“We must strive to build bridges of understanding, to see common ground, and to champion the values that unite us as a nation,” Amaker said. “So let’s pledge to uphold the rights and freedoms of all individuals regardless of race, religion, gender, or background, and let us work together to ensure the voices of democracy continue to echo loudly and rapidly across our land.”
Dominic Napoletano described National Law Day as a celebration of the “resounding chorus of democracy.”
“Democracy isn’t merely about casting votes,” he said. “It’s about ensuring that every voice is heard [and] every voice is respected and empowered.”
Napoletano pointed out that in many parts of the world, even in the United States, opposition was squashed and freedoms curtailed.
“Yet, even in the face of adversity, the indomitable spirit of democracy persists, a beacon of hope, lighting the path forward for a brighter and more inclusive future. In embracing the voices of democracy, we commit ourselves to the principles of equality, justice, and human dignity.”
The Hon. Genine Edwards, chairperson of the Association of Justices of Kings County, had the honor of introducing the event’s keynote speaker, the Hon. Ellen Spodek, president of the Citywide Association of Judges.
Spodek, whose accolades include the Brooklyn Bar Association’s Annual Recognition Award among her many accomplishments, shared that the National Constitution Center and the American Bar Association (ABA) joined forces in this year’s celebration of “Voices of Democracy.” The National Constitution Center and ABA will explore past and present elections through onsite and online special programs, including programs for students from middle school through law school throughout May.
“I like to think of these two venerable organizations as a real-life example of companion planting,” she said, drawing comparisons to planting certain crops in proximity to one another, benefiting both.
“On this Law Day 2024, we only look at the missions of these two impressive organizations to understand that they blend like wild sunflowers in Congress. I doubt we can find a more symbiotic pairing,” Spodek added. “As attorneys and participants in the court system, we should be proud of the role that we play in ensuring that the voices of democracy continue to be heard.”
To the crowd’s delight, the event concluded with Administrative Judges D’Emic and Knipel breaking out their guitars and channeling their inner Woody Guthrie, playing the classic folk song “This Land is Your Land.”
