Travis County Commissioners Court
April 29, 2008
Item 2
Item 2 is approval of a proclamation recognizing may 12003 as law day in Travis County. Commissioner eckhardt.
>> I would do the dramatic reading of the law day proclamation. Do I have some lawyers up here to receive? One of my favorite lawyers!
>> [laughter] would you all like to say a couple of words before we do the resolution?
>> sure.
>> after. On behalf of the austn bar association, this is the 50th anniversary of law day. Which was proclaimed in 1958 by president dwight eisenhower as a day of national dedication to the principle of government under law. The theme of law day this year is the rule of law, which stands for the proposition that individuals should be governed by generally applicable and publicly known laws and not by the arbitrary decisions of presidents and kings and those who have power. The rule of law is a crucial underpinning in every free society, including ours. Law day offers each of us the opportunity to reaffirm our dedication to the ideals of the quality and -- justice in our relation was one another and in our country's relations with other countries. I commend the Commissioners court for honoring that tradition in having the proclamation today. And I would like to leave you with very eloquent words from a presidential proclamation that was issued 30 years ago for law day. The law is not the private property of lawyers. Nor is justice the exclusive province of judges and juries. In the final analysis, true justice is not a matter of courts and law books, but a commitment in each of us to liberty and to mutual respect. President jimmy carter. So thank you for the proclamation.
>> my name is anne greenberg, I’m secretary of the Austin bar association this year, jillian is our president. I’m here also to thank you very much for your consideration and all of your work in working with the bar throughout the year, but also the attorneys and assisting with this proclamation. We are very excited about our event on Friday to celebrate law day. We invite all of you to attend. Where he certainly appreciate your time and attention today.
>> now to read the proclamation, which won't be nearly as eloquent as president carter's was. Whereas this county was founded on the principle -- this country was founded on the principle that voluntary adherence to the rule of law expands rather than limits the opportunities for freedom and whereas a viable democracy requires understanding of the nature and bias ever our freedoms and recognition of the individual responsibilities which those freedoms impose and whereas the law day 200,850th anniversary theme of the raoufl law foundation for communities of opportunity and equity encourage us all to examine the rule of law, our role and its sustainability and its role in protecting our communities, our democracy, opportunities, equity and all that is most precious to us. Now therefore the Travis County Commissioners court does hereby proclaim Thursday may 1st, 2008 as law day and urges the citizens, schools, businesses, legal professionals and media of Travis County to use this occasion to preserve and strengthen the rule of law.
>> thank you. I think that you have already spoke. All those in favor? Unanimous approval. Thank you very much.
>> thank you all.
>> thank you so. Much.
>> us lawyers often get a bum rap, but law -- it's true, it expands our liberties. It does not contract it. It contracts it for a few so we can have maximum liberty for the many.
>> you might want to share that with the whole community, make sure that they know about it.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 8:51 PM