On the Town: Local bar associations celebrate Law Day

The Monroe County Bar Association, Rochester Black Bar Association and the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys together presented the annual Law Day luncheon on May 1 at the Riverside Convention Center.

In honor of this year’s Law Day theme, “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All,” the event included keynote remarks from Verna Myers, a nationally recognized expert on diversity and inclusion within law firms and law schools.

The luncheon also provided an opportunity to recognize several award recipients within the legal community:

• C. Bruce Lawrence, Adolph J. Rodenbeck Award

• The Hon. Patricia D. Marks, Humanitarian Award

• The Hon. Francis A. Affronti, Outstanding Jurist Award

• Karen Smith Callanan, Steve G. Carling and Michael S. Schnittman, William E. McKnight Awards

• Matthew J. Fero, James R. Boyle Award

Each May, the American Bar Association observes Law Day to commemorate the rule of law, the judiciary and its place in American society. The idea of a national Law Day was conceived in 1957 by ABA President Charles Rhynes. In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, established the first Law Day, and in 1961 the U.S. Congress issued a joint resolution making May 1 the official Law Day.

— Photos courtesy MCBA