State Bar of Wisconsin

Celebrate the 222nd birthday of our Constitution on September 17

By Atty. Lindsey Draper, Chair, State Bar of Wisconsin Public Education Committee

Sept. 9, 2009 – Most of us recognize July 4 as our national birthday. But for attorneys and others who value the unique role that our Constitution has played in shaping our nation and our careers, September 17 has an equally compelling claim for attention because it marks birth of one of mankind’s most enduring contributions to justice – the United States Constitution.

Delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention emerged after four long months in the summer heat of Philadelphia to reveal a document that ultimately led to both a new system of government and a legacy of individual rights that defines our lives today as American citizens.

As Chair of the State Bar’s Public Education Committee, I urge other attorneys and citizens across Wisconsin to reflect on the heritage of judicial independence their foresight has given us.

The document they agreed to features three separate branches of government – legislative, executive and judicial – to avoid concentrating too much power in the hands of a few. The establishment of an independent judicial branch was no mere afterthought. The drafters were well aware that colonial courts had been under the strict control of the King and they were determined to create  courts that would impartially apply the facts and the law to everyone who appeared before them.

Their vision and courage firmly established the rule of law administered by impartial courts as a cornerstone of our justice system. This heritage of judicial impartiality and the other innovations written into the U.S. Constitution are so essential to our freedom and national identity that since 2005, Americans have been asked by Congress to honor it by observing September 17 as “Constitution Day.” Teachers are asked to bring the story of our Constitution into the classroom, public officials are urged to publicly commemorate the day’s significance and all of us are invited to reaffirm the principles that underpin the world’s oldest written constitution.

Constitution Day marks far more than an historical event – for all of us in the State Bar it is an opportunity to remind others about the central role played by impartial courts in securing the promise of self-government and justice for all.

Rotunda Report is a new newsletter, issued once every two weeks, from the State Bar of Wisconsin that highlights legislative, judicial and administrative developments that impact the legal profession and the justice system. It is produced by the Bar’s Government Relations Team and is distributed free to attorneys, public officials and others who help shape public policy in Wisconsin. We invite your suggestions to make the Rotunda Report more informative and useful and we encourage you to visit our Web site for the most current information about justice-related issues.

© 2009, State Bar of Wisconsin