The Mecklenburg County Bar celebrated the nation's 54^th  Law Day on May 3, 2012 at the Hilton Charlotte Center City.  Law Day was established by a proclamation of President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958. In the midst of the Cold War, the President encouraged Americans to reflect on the importance of the rule of law in the preservation of democracy.

The Luncheon, headlined by Mark Curriden, author of  "Contempt of Court:  The Turn-of-the-Century Lynching That Launched a Hundred Years of Federalism," drew nearly 400 attendees. W. Lewis Glenn III, Law Day Committee chair, welcomed all the attendees and thanked J. Mitchell Aberman, David W. Erdman, Ralph R. McMillan, Raymond E. Owens Jr., and Jeff Ward for providing musical entertainment as guests entered the ballroom.  Mr. Glenn then introduced Julian H. Wright Jr. to give the invocation.  Marc E. Gustafson, Law Day Committee member, recognized the nearly 50 federal and state judges in attendance.

A regular highlight of the Law Day Luncheon is the presentation of the Liberty Bell Award, given each year to a non-lawyer who has made a significant contribution to the law. Dr. Mary H. Howerton, unaware that she had been chosen to receive the award, looked on as Ray S. Farris announced that she was this year's recipient. Mr. Farris highlighted Dr. Howerton's considerable work as the Bar's first executive director.  

Fannie Flono of the Charlotte Observer presented the Law Day Essay Contest first place award to local high school student Jessica Lee.  Ms. Lee's essay was titled, "Is the Defense Ready to Proceed?  No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom."

Milton Heath Gilbert Jr. introduced Mark Curriden, author of  "Contempt of Court:  The Turn-of-the-Century Lynching That Launched a Hundred Years of Federalism" and shared with the audience that two movie producers were in the audience preparing to film a movie about "Contempt."  Mr. Curriden discussed his moving narrative on the legal and social aftermath of the 1906 trial of Ed Johnson, a black man, for the rape of Nevada Taylor, a white woman, in Tennessee. This case resulted in the Supreme Court holding its first criminal trial and provided the legal precedent that paved the way for the Supreme Court to find that the Bill of Rights applied to the states. 

MCB President Robert C. Dortch, Jr. wrapped up the Luncheon by thanking Event Sponsor Kroll Ontrack and reminded those in attendance that the Law Day Luncheon would not be possible without the support of our local law firms, legal departments and community organizations.  Thank you to the 19 Gold Law Day Sponsors - Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP; Central Piedmont Community College; Dozier, Miller, Pollard & Murphy, LLP; Erwin, Bishop, Capitano & Moss, P.A.; Essex Richards P.A.; Hamilton Stephens Steele & Martin, PLLC; Horack Talley PA; Hunton & Williams; James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A.; John S. Leary Association of Black Lawyers; Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A.; K & L Gates; McGuireWoods LLP; Mecklenburg County District Attorneys Office; Moore & Van Allen PLLC; Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP; Tin Fulton Walker & Owen, PLLC; Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman, PA; and Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP.  Thank you to the 11 Silver Law Day Sponsors - Baucom, Claytor, Benton, Morgan & Wood, P.A.; Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, L.L.P.; Helping Hands Production; Law Office of Grady Jessup, PLLC; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; Nexsen Pruet, PLLC; Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP; Poyner Spruill LLP; Special Counsel; Summa, Additon & Ashe, P.A.; and Wake Forest University School of Law.

The Law Day Luncheon was organized by the Law Day Committee, chaired by W. Lewis Glenn III. The Committee members are Hon. Selina M. Brooks, Sarah G. Gordon, Marc E. Gustafson, Randall S. Hoose Jr., Jennifer Kuhn, Spencer B. Merriweather III, Jean S. Rogers and Jerri J. Simmons.