Law Day, which falls on May 1 every year, serves as an observance of the importance of the rule of law in the U.S. and an opportunity to learn more about legal principles and the legal system. The American Bar Association designates a theme for Law Day each year. This year’s theme commemorates the 50th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of Miranda v. Arizona, which clarified 5th Amendment protections against self-incrimination.
According to President Barack Obama, in a press release about Law Day,
Miranda v. Arizona institutionalized the important practice of explaining constitutional rights prior to interrogation. And it established the important general rule that individuals interrogated in police custody cannot have their answers admitted into evidence against them unless they had first been informed of their rights -- including the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney present.
The President officially proclaimed May 1, 2016 as Law Day and urged, “…all Americans to acknowledge the importance of our Nation's legal and judicial systems…”
The American Bar Association has put together a page of resources for Law Day 2016, including, among other materials, a video on the right to counsel put together by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and The Right to Remain Silent, a documentary about Miranda from The Constitution Project.
The Law Library joins the ABA in celebrating Law Day 2016.
Image via American Bar Association.