Sussex County to host Law Day

NEWTON — The Sussex County Bar Association will welcome the public to the annual Law Day celebration on Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m., at the historic Sussex County Court House in Newton.
Law Day 2016, Miranda: More than Words, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic United States Supreme Court case, Miranda v. Arizona. The Miranda Warning, which was developed in response to this landmark ruling, apprises suspects being interrogated by police of their right to remain silent and their right to legal representation. Law Day USA is a celebration of the Rule of Law in the United States which was first proclaimed in 1958 by President Eisenhower. The event occurs annually on or near the first day of May. In recognition of the significance of the Miranda warning, local attorneys will also visit area middle schools and high schools on April 29.
This year’s theme provides an opportunity to explore our criminal justice system and the importance of procedural fairness and equal justice under the law. A lecture on the significance of the ruling will be offered by Mark Hontz, Esquire.
“The presentation will provide the historic background and contemporary significance of the Miranda ruling, including the Constitutional guarantees that it is meant to uphold,” Hontz said.
The event also will honor the success of the Mock Trial team from High Point Regional High School, and recognize the career of local attorney Honorable Ronald B. Graves, J.A.D. (retired). Sussex County Bar Association President John Williams will be on hand to greet all guests. In addition, Michelle Olenick, Esquire, will be recognized for her long-term participation in the legal assistance and education program at Project Self-Sufficiency.
Each year the Sussex County Bar Association selects a member of the legal profession whose lifetime service to the law merits recognition at Law Day. This year, the Honorable Ronald B. Graves, J.A.D. (retired) will be honored for his service to the practice of law.
“Judge Graves has served the law in both the private and public sectors in Sussex County and throughout the State of New Jersey,” Hontz said. “After beginning his career in the private sector and as First Assistant Prosecutor in Sussex County, Judge Graves was appointed as a Superior Court Judge serving Sussex County in 1983. He concluded his judicial career with many years as an Appellate Division Judge serving the State of New Jersey.”
Regarding Project Self-Sufficiency’s designation of Olenick as their Law Day nominee, Deborah Berry-Toon, executive director of Project Self-Sufficiency, said, “Michelle Olenick is extremely compassionate and she is committed to offering equal access to the justice system for at-risk clients. We are grateful to Michelle and to all of the attorneys who have volunteered their time on behalf of the clients of Project Self-Sufficiency during this past year, and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership for years to come.”
The Law Day celebration will also recognize the award-winning High Point Regional High School Mock Trial team which progressed to the northern regional finals, beating teams from seven other Sussex County high schools along the way. The Mock Trial Competition is sponsored annually by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation to provide high school students with the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and careful fact analysis. During the event, each team must present a case to a judge, with students serving as witnesses and attorneys. Each team is judged based on their performance, with local attorneys volunteering as coaches.