Features » Central Valley Today

Law Day

By KSEE Sales
February 27, 2013 Updated Feb 27, 2013 at 3:07 PM PDT

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln. Under this order all slaves were demanded to be set free. Also 150-years ago Heald College came into existence. So to mark these two important milestones the college is celebrating with Law Day.

Here to tell us what that means and how you can take part is criminal justice instructor David Noblett.

Law Day 2013 at Heald River Park will be held on May 1, 2013 – that is at Heald’s Satellite Campus at Friant and 41. The Criminal Justice and Paralegal Programs are celebrating with the Community the National Law Day Theme of “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.” The theme was selected because the year 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation and also the 150th anniversary of Heald College. Martin Luther King stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial and called our nation to live up to the great promise of equality for all and accordingly, Law Day 2013 will provide us an opportunity to explore the movement for civil and human rights in America and the impact it has in promoting the ideal of equality.

During the celebration of Law Day, the focus turns to college students and their civic education. Heald is celebrating with its students the US legal system by having a writing contest and a poster contest for all students. The paralegal students will conduct a mock trial and have keynote speakers discussing the legal system. Many law firms come to share information about their firms. The criminal justice students are inviting local law enforcement agencies to participate and also bring specialty equipment showing the different specialty units available for officers in the various agencies, such as SWOT, search and rescue, K-9, motors, air operations. Last year, the Fresno County Sheriff’s department Air Opps division landed their Eagle 1 Helicopter , Clovis PD brought out their Mobile Command Unit, and the US Marshalls attended and brought out some of their equipment used in apprehending fugitives.

Last year we had approximately 450 persons attending. It starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. The public is welcome.

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