Every May 1, the American Bar Association celebrates Law Day with activities and programs, based around a single theme and intended to celebrate the rule of law in American society. President Dwight Eisenhower declared the first Law Day in 1958, and in 1961, Congress made May 1 the official Law Day going forward.
The ABA has chosen “The 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy” as the focus for its Law Day 2017 activities, in advance of the 150th anniversary of the amendment’s ratification next year. The 14th Amendment has become one of the most important sources of modern-day civil rights, with its guarantee of equal protection and due process. For its May edition, the ABA Journal produced a cover story and photo gallery devoted to how the 14th Amendment was drafted and how it has been interpreted over its 149 years.