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New York County Lawyers Association Statement on the Importance in Participating in This Year’s Virtual Law Day
statement-letter
New York County Lawyers Association Statement on the Importance in Participating in This Year’s Virtual Law Day
Statements & Letters
Published On:
May 01, 2020
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
Contact: Toni Valenti
New York County Lawyers Association Statement on
the Importance in Participating in This Year’s Virtual Law Day
Never Before Has Protecting the Right to Vote Been More Important
May 1, 2020 New York, New York — Stephen C. Lessard, President of the New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) issued this statement today on behalf of the Association:
“Law Day is a day of celebration during which our nation reflects upon the American rule of law and the ideals of equality and justice. This day provides each of us with an opportunity to understand how the law and legal process protect our American way of life and the democratic freedoms that we cherish.
The theme for Law Day 2020 is “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100.” For nearly a century before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the campaign for women’s suffrage promoted a new way of thinking about what it means to be a woman and a citizen in our country, culminating in the expansion of our representative democracy. This year is also the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment, which prohibits denying the right to vote based on race or color. These amendments espouse the ideal that every citizen is equal under the law, particularly when exercising the most fundamental right of giving consent to be governed through the right to vote.
Law Day provides each of us an opportunity to reflect on and promote the fundamental human right to vote, which must always be zealously protected. In this extraordinary time, that opportunity is more important than ever, as the legal profession must ensure that every citizen can safely cast their vote this year. Even though we are currently unable to gather in person, we are celebrating Law Day virtually. Please make time to join a virtual Law Day ceremony that will occur throughout the nation today.
NYCLA, long known for diversity and inclusiveness, also has a rich history in defending the Rule of Law through its committee and board amicus briefs to the court, speaking out against ad hominem attacks on Judges through its Rapid Response Team, and pro bono programs which provide access to justice to those who are poor, disenfranchised or who are otherwise unaware of how to receive legal support. Defending the right to vote for all Americans, regardless of party affiliation, age, or location in our country and providing the means for all Americans to vote has never been more important than it is today. NYCLA Leadership encourages all attorneys to get involved in a Virtual Law Day event.
About the New York County Lawyers Association
The New York County Lawyers Association (www.nycla.org) was founded in 1908 as one of the first major bar associations in the country that admitted members without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or gender. Since its inception, it has pioneered some of the most far-reaching and tangible reforms in American jurisprudence and has continuously played an active role in legal developments and public policy.
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