Dear NYLS Community Members,
Today, May 1, is Law Day. Established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958, and designated by Congress in 1961, Law Day is a national observance dedicated to celebrating the rule of law and reminding us of its essential place in maintaining due process and equal justice under law.
As a law dean, I must encourage you to reflect on the foundational principles that define our legal system, and our role as a law school and lawyers in upholding them.
We must remember that the rule of law cannot be promoted, protected, or preserved without some form of active commitment, which often must be accompanied by courage. Promoting the rule of law must be an everyday activity, particularly now when we are living through a time of rapid change where institutions and processes are often misunderstood and mistrusted, and democratic participation is strained.
As a law school, we possess broad powers and special knowledge to engage and educate the public, judges, legislators, and other elected and appointed officials, and one another. It is through this work that we commit ourselves to the preservation of the rule of law and inspire the next generation of lawyers to carry this obligation forward.
When NYLS graduates take their oath as part of their admission to the bar, they pledge to preserve the rule of law and uphold the Constitutions of the State of New York and the United States. Doing so is not a political act but a foundational one to be a member of a noble profession and to fulfill its highest aspirations.
Let us never take the rule of law or our role for granted, and let us always lead with integrity, commitment, and courage.
Anthony W. Crowell
Dean and President
Professor of Law
New York Law School