Law Day is jointly sponsored by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation, its Center for Law-Related Education, and the Nebraska Supreme Court each year. Each year this day is set aside to celebrate and enjoy our freedoms. It focuses on our heritage of liberty under law and how the rule of law makes our democracy possible.
The 2009 theme was "Equality Before the Law."
This year marked the tenth anniversary of the Foundation and the Nebraska Supreme Court’s co-sponsorship of the annual Law Day Essay Contest. Borrowing from the State Motto, the organizations chose the 2009 Law Day theme, “Equality Before the Law.” Since 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the theme will also cast light on Lincoln’s legacy of human rights.
Members of the Bar Foundation's Public Education and Outreach Promoting Law & Equity (PEOPLE) Committee served as judges for the essay contest for which winners were recognized at the Law Day Luncheon in Lincoln on April 23. Invitations, as well as classroom resources, were sent to over 2,000 secondary teachers of Social Studies, English, and Business Law. The contest was open to all Nebraska students in grades 7-12.
Following the luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion, contest winners and their guests adjourned to the Nebraska Supreme Court in the Capitol for a Chautauqua-style presentation by Elena Dodd, "Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Ms. Dodd portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt. Audience members had an opportunity to interact with “Eleanor,” who was instrumental in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
The program covered Mrs. Roosevelt's experience after her husband Franklin's death, when she was named as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations and served as chair of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. This Commission, under her leadership, drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first international statement of its kind in history. On December 10, 1948, the Declaration was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly. Intended as a statement of principles only, it has achieved the force of law throughout the world.
"Mrs. R." spoke candidly of her hopes for this landmark document and of the problems she faced in trying to reach consensus among delegates from China, Australia, the Soviet Union, and the Arab nations. She managed to see humor in the situation, recalling the intense work schedule and colorful personalities among her colleagues and reminded us that, above all, human rights begin at home and are the responsibility of everyone.
Ms. Dodd’s appearance in celebration of Law Day was made possible by sponsorship from Thomson Reuters. She no longer tours nationally after this event. A grant from the Nebraska Humanities Council provided support for many of her performances in 2008 and 2009.
The 2009 question is as follows:
The 2009 theme was "Equality Before the Law."
| 2009 Law Day Luncheon Thursday, April 23, 2009 Nebraska Governor's Residence 14th and H Streets Lincoln, Nebraska |
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2009 Law Day
Essay Contest Winners 7th Grade
8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade Ethan Steiner
Hartington Public School Hartington Brooklyn Swantek McCool Junction Middle School McCool Junction Hannah Opfer Blair Senior High School Blair Katie Nelson Duchesne Academy Omaha Kathryn Vampola Arlington High School Arlington Mark Lutkemeier Silver Lake High School Roseland |
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2009 Essay Contest
and Luncheon Luncheon Picture Gallery
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2009 Law Day Essay Contest and Luncheon
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| Elena Dodd as Eleanor Roosevelt |
Members of the Bar Foundation's Public Education and Outreach Promoting Law & Equity (PEOPLE) Committee served as judges for the essay contest for which winners were recognized at the Law Day Luncheon in Lincoln on April 23. Invitations, as well as classroom resources, were sent to over 2,000 secondary teachers of Social Studies, English, and Business Law. The contest was open to all Nebraska students in grades 7-12.
Following the luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion, contest winners and their guests adjourned to the Nebraska Supreme Court in the Capitol for a Chautauqua-style presentation by Elena Dodd, "Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Ms. Dodd portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt. Audience members had an opportunity to interact with “Eleanor,” who was instrumental in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
The program covered Mrs. Roosevelt's experience after her husband Franklin's death, when she was named as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations and served as chair of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. This Commission, under her leadership, drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first international statement of its kind in history. On December 10, 1948, the Declaration was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly. Intended as a statement of principles only, it has achieved the force of law throughout the world.
"Mrs. R." spoke candidly of her hopes for this landmark document and of the problems she faced in trying to reach consensus among delegates from China, Australia, the Soviet Union, and the Arab nations. She managed to see humor in the situation, recalling the intense work schedule and colorful personalities among her colleagues and reminded us that, above all, human rights begin at home and are the responsibility of everyone.
Ms. Dodd’s appearance in celebration of Law Day was made possible by sponsorship from Thomson Reuters. She no longer tours nationally after this event. A grant from the Nebraska Humanities Council provided support for many of her performances in 2008 and 2009.
The 2009 question is as follows:
How does the United States’ legal system promote the ideals expressed by President Abraham Lincoln in the first sentence of the Gettysburg Address given on November 19, 1863?
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth
on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth
on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
