WASHINGTON, D.C., April 26, 2012 — In an effort to underscore the importance of state court funding, American Bar Association President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III will speak at the Maryland State Bar Association’s Law Day event, to be held in Baltimore on April 30.  The program takes place at the Sheppard Pratt Conference Center, 6501 North Charles Street at 9 a.m. 

As part of Law Day 2012, Robinson is touring five states to highlight the crisis of court underfunding around the nation.  Maryland is his third stop in the presidential Law Day tour.  Earlier this month, Robinson participated in Law Day events in Florida and New York; he will participate in events in Ohio on May 3, and in Kentucky on May 9.

The ABA presidential Law Day tour is part of several activities planned to focus attention on the Law Day 2012 theme, “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom.”

 According to the National Center for State Courts, 42 states cut funding for their judiciaries in 2011, which has hindered the courts’ ability to render access to justice for all Americans.  It also has placed families and businesses in jeopardy as courtrooms have been forced to close, shorten their hours and lay off staff.  However, this year Maryland increased its court funding.

More than 200 high school students and teachers from around the state have been invited to participate in the Maryland State Bar Law Day event.  Chief Judge Robert M. Bell, Maryland Court of Appeals, will give the keynote address.  Events are sponsored by the MSBA Public Awareness Committee and the Citizenship Law Related Education Program of Maryland.

While Law Day is officially recognized on May 1, many civic groups and bar associations celebrate with month-long programs, presentations and events. 

More information on the Maryland State Bar Law Day event is available here.  

Envisioned in 1957 by then ABA President Charles S. Rhyne as a special national day of recognition, the first Law Day was established by President Dwight Eisenhower the following year.  Congress issued a joint resolution in 1961 designating May 1 as the official day to celebrate the nation’s commitment to the rule of law.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the world’s largest voluntary professional membership organization. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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