For nearly 50 years, the U.S. has celebrated Law Day every May. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the first Law Day on May 1,1958, and Congress officially designed May 1 as Law Day in 1961.
Seattle Municipal Court, while not officially recognizing Law Day on May 1, hosted a special event with students from Chief Sealth, Nathan Hale and Rainier Beach high schools on Friday, May 23. New this year was also opening the event up to court employees and their friends and family. The teens and SMC Friends & Family participants came together to celebrate this year’s official Law Day theme—”The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many: One”—which is determined by the American Bar Association (ABA), the national host sponsor.
According to the ABA, Law Day 2025 is meant to focus on “exploring and renewing our duties to one another under the Constitution and our democratic norms. The Constitution establishes a framework for government that unites us as one citizenry, through means such as our representative government, jury service, and a regular Census. And through this commitment to our union, we each provide for the common good through government responses to national crises and natural disasters, and through community and advocacy programs for students and adults.”
Across the country, local bar associations, law schools, and legal organizations—including SMC—recognized Law Day with events, programs, and competitions.
SMC’s Director of Equity and Engagement Victoria Moreland and Equity and Engagement Program Specialist Linh Le are the main organizers of this event but count on a lot of volunteers (staff, external partners, judges and magistrates) to help make the day a success.
Moreland and Linh had creative license to ensure the day would be entertaining and engaging, but “really Law Day is a chance for high school kids—as well as staff members’ friends and family—to learn about the three branches of government,” Moreland said. “This is a wonderful activity as we open our doors to students that we foster a basic understanding of the judicial system and to encourage students’ engagement in the judicial process,” she added. “Perhaps they’ll become a juror in the future or see the judicial system as a potential career path.”
Law Day at SMC consisted of games and a game show, tours of the court, city hall and the mayor’s office (across the street from SMC), observing a court proceeding, meeting the marshals, and participating in a career panel and mock trials. There was also a scavenger hunt and a selfie wall, where kids could pose for fun pictures in judicial robes with a gavel in hand.
“What’s so amazing about today is that we connected students to our staff and volunteers from the legal system—including defenders, prosecutors and attorneys—with hands-on learning,” Moreland said. “Students had the opportunity to ask questions about various legal careers and the judicial process. This can really help empower youth with the knowledge of court careers, court process, and help bring the constitution to light,” she added.
“The day was meant to be engaging,” Moreland said. “So many people learn best when they’re having fun, me included, and it was a joy to see so many people learning and really enjoying themselves.”