The Nevada Supreme Court has been recognized by the American Bar Association for having one of the nation’s top Law Day programs in 2012 – the second straight year the high court and its partners have received such recognition.

The ABA’s theme for Law Day 2012 was “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom.”  (shown) Judge Michael Montero, of the 6th Judicial District Court, led the Lowry High School discussion.

Supreme Court Justice Nancy Saitta said, “The Law Day theme emphasized the struggles by courts across the nation to provide timely resolution of legal disputes with reduced budgets and staff despite increasing caseloads.”

Only three Law Day programs annually are singled out for ABA’s Law Day Outstanding Activity Awards.  The Supreme Court will receive the award at the ABA’s Midyear Meeting in Dallas, Texas, on February 8.

“This again is a great honor for the Supreme Court and all of our partners in Law Day 2012,” said Justice Saitta, whose Judicial Public Information Committee spearheads the annual outreach effort.

“Law Day has become a tremendous vehicle to inform Nevadans about the Judicial Branch and today’s legal issues,” Justice Saitta said.  “It provides a unique opportunity for students to interact with judicial and community leaders while learning about the law.”

The award will be accepted by State Bar of Nevada President Frank Flaherty and State Bar of Nevada Executive Director Kimberly Farmer.

“A portion of Law Day 2012 focused on a Nevada privacy case that originated in the rural community of Winnemucca and went all the way to the United States Supreme Court,” Justice Saitta noted

The centerpiece of Law Day 2012 was the Law Day Live webcast on April 26, 2012 – a high tech, interactive Internet forum that was accessible worldwide.  It served as an educational tool, connecting middle and high schools across the state through a live streamed webcast to explore the privacy issues in the case of Larry D. Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court.

Three high schools were linked through video technology for the live statewide webcast that will be available to everyone with Internet access.  The high schools were Canyon Springs in Las Vegas, Damonte Ranch in Reno, and Lowry in Winnemucca.  Students and the public were able to comment on issues or ask questions during the webcast through Twitter or Facebook links.

Panels at each location included judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and law enforcement.  Justice Saitta moderated Law Day Live from Canyon Springs High School in Las Vegas, a law program magnet school.

Justice James W. Hardesty was the moderator at Damonte Ranch High School in Reno.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Michael Montero headed the panel at Lowry High School in Winnemucca.

“This event let us use today’s technology to bring our Law Day program to students and citizens across the state in the only way possible because of the vast distances separating Nevada’s communities,” Justice Saitta said.  “Our education partners made the program particularly instructive for the students by providing a complete curriculum specifically created to prepare the students for the Law Day discussion.”

The Supreme Court’s other partners in Law Day 2012 included the Administrative Office of the Courts, Nevada Department of Education, Clark County School District, State Bar of Nevada Young Lawyers Section, Clark County Bar Association, Washoe County Bar Association, Second Judicial District Court, Fourth Judicial District Court, Eighth Judicial District Court, Westlaw, Sunbelt Broadcasting, KLAS-TV in Las Vegas, and Project REAL.

For its 2011 program, the Nevada Supreme Court also won top national honors for the state’s innovative program focusing on the rights of the accused to be represented by lawyers.  The ABA’s Law Day theme was “The Legacy of John Adams, from Boston to Guantanamo.”

Nevada will again have extensive Law Day program in 2013. Law Day officially is May 1 but, as in past years, Law Day 2013 in Nevada will become Law Month.  The ABA theme for this year’s Law Day is Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.

Events will kick off with Law Day Live on April 25, which will again be an innovative Internet activity with students making legal arguments about cases of current interesting affecting equality.  Law Day will also include forums at schools with panels of judges and lawyers, and essay and poster contests.

Law Day Live helps students understand their rights & responsibilities