Keynote Speaker:
Barry Scheck

Law Day at 50:
‘The Rule of Law: Foundation for
Communities of Opportunity & Equity'

50 years ago President Eisenhower proclaimed the first Law Day a “day of national dedication to the principle of government under law.” The San Antonio Bar Association and the San Antonio Bar Foundation invite you to celebrate this enduring principle during our 50th anniversary of Law Day celebration on Friday, May 9, 2008, at the AT&T Community Center.

President John F. Kennedy said “by strengthening the rule of law we strengthen freedom and justice.” The 50th anniversary theme for Law Day is The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity. We all have a stake in the rule of law, and we all can do our part to strengthen it. The rule of law refers to a system of self-government with a strong and accessible legal process. Law Day 2008 will explore the meaning of the rule of law, fostering public understanding of the rule of law through discussion of its role in a free society.

This year’s keynote speaker is Barry Scheck. Known for his years of landmark litigation, which set standards for the use of DNA evidence in courts throughout the country, Mr. Scheck has spearheaded a nationwide movement to re-examine the fairness and efficacy of our criminal justice system. A longtime advocate for DNA testing, Mr. Scheck co-founded The Innocence Project in 1992 with his colleague Peter Neufeld. This non-profit legal clinic has used DNA evidence to exonerate more than 200 wrongfully imprisoned people, some of whom were on death row or had been incarcerated for decades. Profiles of the exonerated can be found at www.innocenceproject.org. The impact of Mr. Scheck’s work has been resounding. He has organized a network of “innocence projects” in universities throughout America. In 2003 The State of Illinois initiated a special commission “to study and review the administration of the capital punishment process to determine why [it has resulted] in the imposition of death sentences upon innocent people.”

Mr. Scheck is perhaps best-recognized as the DNA expert on the O.J. Simpson defense team. He has served as Counsel in many high-profile cases, including the Louise Woodward “Nanny Murder” case and the Abner Louima sexual assault case, which was a lightning rod for the issue of police brutality. He has covered the Oklahoma City bombing and other high profile trials for NBC News. He is a commissioner of forensic science for New York state and a frequently sought-after expert by many agencies, including the FBI. A Professor at the Cardozo School of Law, he is Director of Clinical Education for the Trial Advocacy Program and the Center for the Study of Law and Ethics. Scheck received his B.S. from Yale and his law degree from UC Berkeley and is a former staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society. He also is the President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In 1996 he received their highest award as the Most Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyer in America.

The cost per table of ten is $1,000 and individual tickets are $45. The SABA Law Day committee has planned the Law Day Luncheon as a time for lawyers from all areas of practice and members of our community to come together to celebrate and show appreciation for our legal system.

If you have any questions about the Law Day Luncheon or would like to purchase a table, please contact Jimmy Allison at 210.227.8822 x21.