Celebrate the 221st Birthday of the United States Constitution on September 17 

By Diane Diel, President,
State Bar of Wisconsin

Nearly every American recognizes the significance of September 11 in our collective history. Far fewer understand the importance of September 17. That’s unfortunate because this date marks one of the most remarkable events in the history of mankind: the signing of the United States Constitution.

Delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention met for four long months in the summer heat of Philadelphia to debate, draft and sign 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.

The government they established features three separate branches of government – legislative, executive and judicial – to avoid concentrating too much power in the hands of a few. The fact that the judicial branch is independent of the legislative and executive branches was neither an afterthought nor a coincidence. During the Colonial period, the courts were under the strict control of the King and the founding fathers were determined to create  a judiciary that would impartially and fairly apply the facts of every case to the applicable law.

Because of their vision and courage, the rule of law was firmly established as a fundamental concept of our government. This heritage of judicial impartiality is so essential to our freedom and national identity that it remains the duty of every generation of Americans to reaffirm it. In the words of Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, "The law makes a promise – neutrality. If the promise gets broken, the law as we know it ceases to exist. All that's left is the dictate of a tyrant, or perhaps a mob."

As President of the State Bar of Wisconsin, I am privileged to represent over 20,000 attorneys who embody this heritage. As close observers of our judicial system, we recognize that it is not perfect – critical components are underfunded and many citizens lack the resources needed to gain full access to justice – but we also know that it remains an indispensable cornerstone of the democracy envisioned by the patriots who gathered in Philadelphia over 200 years ago.

Since 2005, Americans have been asked to honor their legacy by observing September 17 as “Constitution Day.” Teachers are expected 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.

I encourage every Wisconsin citizen to observe and celebrate this heritage today. As you do so, I particularly urge you to recognize the central role played by America’s tradition of impartial courts in securing the promise of self-government and individual liberty.