Guam News - Community Events

Guam - On Friday, April 27, the Governor of Guam, the Guam Legislature, and the Judicial Council of Guam will proclaim May 1 as Law Day and April 28 – May 5, 2012 as Law Week.

The theme of  Law Day 2012 is "No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom"

In 1958 President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the first Law Day as "a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law."

The 2012 Law Week Celebration in Guam is once again be co-hosted by the Guam Bar Association, the Judiciary of Guam and the District Court of Guam. This year’s theme, "No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom," underscores the importance of the courts and their role in ensuring access to justice for everyone. Democracy demands a strong and effective judiciary, and budgetary shortages have tangible consequences to the fair administration of justice in our community. An American Bar Association Task Force on the Preservation of the Justice System said in a 2011 report, "Given their historic role as the protectors of the least advantaged in our nation, the courts have rightly been called ‘Society’s Emergency Room.’ And never is that title so warranted as in times of economic distress. The same recession that has led legislatures to reduce access to our justice system has obviously increased the numbers of people who need it."

"The Law Day 2012 theme highlights the crucial role of our courts in a free society and is devoted to enhancing public appreciation and understanding of the vital importance of courts and the dangers of underfunding them," stated Chief Justice F. Philip Carbullido.

Cynthia Ecubie, president of the Guam Bar Association, echoed the Chief Justice’s sentiment: "Though our annual Law Week events, we hope to involve the community and educate island residents about the legal system; and, having been part of the celebration for the past four years, we have seen a greater understanding in the community of the vital importance of our courts, how the legal system functions, including our island’s school children who might, one day, become future attorneys, judges, justices or a viable and important part of the judicial network."

This year, the Judiciary, the Guam Bar, and the District Court of Guam will be sponsoring another series of events designed to engage the community in the celebration of our legal system.

Events will include:

A 5k Race Judicata Sunset Run/Walk on April 28;
Open House Tours of the Judiciary of Guam and the District Court of Guam beginning on April 30;
The State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice F. Philip Carbullido on May 1;
KGTF Video Premiere Project highlighting the importance of underfunded courts on May 1;
Student Island Leadership Day at the District Court on May 2, 2012;
Presentation of the 5th annual Hustisia Award on May 4;
Mock trials performed by elementary and middle school students from April 30 to May 3;
Law Day Naturalization Ceremony and Citizen Outreach Program at the District Court of Guam on April 30;
A Law Fair at the Micronesia Mall from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, May 5; and
Law Day Art and Essay Contests.

For additional and regularly udpated information about Law Week visit the websites of the Unified Courts of Guam at www.guamcourts.org, the District Court of Guam at www.gud.uscourts.gov or the Guam Bar Association at www.guambar.org.