In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Law Day, the Nebraska State Bar Foundation and the Nebraska Supreme Court sponsored a Law Day Luncheon and interactive Forum on First Amendment Rights on May 5. The venue was Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET) studios in Lincoln where winners of the Ninth Annual Law Day Essay Contest, their teachers and parents were honored at a special recognition luncheon.

Following the luncheon, student winners and other Lincoln area students had the unique opportunity of addressing their questions about First Amendment Rights to Chief Justice Michael Heavican and Justice John Gerrard of the Nebraska Supreme Court as well as Chief Judge Everett Inbody and Judge Frankie Moore of the Nebraska Court of Appeals. Student and lawyer groups in other communities around the state were also able to ask questions of the panelists. Dr. Paul Lisnek, nationally prominent jury consultant and legal analyst, served as moderator for the exchange. Dr. Lisnek’s appearance in Nebraska was made possible by the Flavel A. Wright Fund for the Study of Constitutional Law and by Thomson West.

The Law Day Essay Contest attracts essays from students across the state, competing by grade level, grades 7-12. By researching and writing about a topic related to the annual Law Day theme, students can gain a deeper understanding of and make a stronger connection with our heritage of liberty and the citizenship it requires to keep our country free.

The Essay Contest culminates each May on Law Day (on or near May 1).

Winners are selected from each grade level, and they, their teachers and parents are invited to a special recognition luncheon on Law Day in Lincoln. Students are not asked to read their essays; however, copies of the writers’ winning work are bound and displayed at the luncheon.

The 2008 Law Day theme was "The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity."

The 2008 question is as follows:

A Nebraska (middle or high) school has a 50% population of students whose first language is not English. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers raid a local factory and arrest dozens of workers who are in the USA allegedly illegally.

A group of students at the school asks for and is granted permission to organize a school assembly to protest the arrests and support the workers' families.

A student appears at the assembly with a sign that reads "Illegals -- Who Needs 'em?" Student rally organizers take offense at the sign and ask the principal to order the sign taken down. Principal agrees and has the sign taken down. Principal gives the student who created and put up the sign a one-day in-school suspension. The student files a lawsuit alleging that the principal's actions violate the student's right of free speech.

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Morse v. Frederick, 571 U.S. ______, No. 06-278 (6/25/2007), how would you rule and what arguments would you use to support your position, if you were a Supreme Court Justice in this case?

To review the Supreme Court Opinion on Morse v. Frederick, go to: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/06-278.pdf

For entry information, please see the Invitation Letter to the right.

2008 Law Day Luncheon
Monday, May 5, 2008
Lincoln, Nebraska

Winning Essays (PDF)

Luncheon Pictures

Invitation Letter (PDF)
(Including state standards and submission information)

Law Day Essay Contest FAQ (PDF)

Classroom Resources (Grades 7-12) (PDF)

2007 Law Day Luncheon
(Including pictures)

2007 Law Day Luncheon Presentation by Alan Peterson: Fair and Impartial Courts”

2006 Law Day Luncheon
(Includes pictures)

2005 Law Day Luncheon
(Includes pictures)

2004 Law Day Luncheon
(Includes pictures)