What is Law Day?
In 1961, Congress passed a joint resolution designating May 1 as the national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share.
Law Day 2023
For timely information and activities related to Law Day, click HERE to visit the U.S. Courts national outreach page on Law Day observances and HERE to visit the Law Day webpage of the American Bar Association.
Law Day 2022
To celebrate Law Day 2022, the Judicial Learning Center is launching an online exhibit about the Tinker v. Des Moines case. The web exhibit mirrors what can be seen in the new Tinker exhibit in the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in St. Louis, featuring the black armband worn by Mary Beth Tinker in 1965.
Related Activity: From Suffragist Sashes to Antiwar Armbands
Use this video from the U.S. Courts and the two activity sheets below to learn more about an unlikely connection between two rights activists from different eras: Suffragist Virginia Minor and Vietnam war protester Mary Beth Tinker.
From Suffragist Sashes to Antiwar Armbands Activity Sheet PDF
Expanded WebQuest Activity PDF
About the 2021 Theme: Advancing the Rule of Law Now
The rule of law is the bedrock of American rights and liberties—in times of calm and unrest alike. The 2021 Law Day theme—Advancing the Rule of Law, Now—reminds all of us that we the people share the responsibility to promote the rule of law, defend liberty, and pursue justice. See the Law Day page from the American Bar Association www.LawDay.org for more on the theme.
ACTIVITIES: Understanding the Rule of Law
ACTIVITIES: The Rule of Law and the Judicial Branch
Additional Resources on the Rule of Law:
- The Judicial Learning Center
- The U.S. Courts
- Center for Teaching the Rule of Law
- The American Bar Association
- World Justice Project
- National Constitution Center
- Annenberg Classroom