Law Day Celebrates the American Justice System

WAJ Provides Free Public Film and Speaker

Tuesday, May 1, will be the 54th annual “Law Day” in Wisconsin, a celebration of the Constitution, courts and American justice system in general.

The theme for Law Day 2012 is “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom.”  Wisconsin Association for Justice (WAJ) President Ed Vopal on Thursday urged all students and teachers, jurors, and general citizens to help acknowledge the important role the justice system plays in society.

“Courts and juries play a vital role in protecting the rights of citizens,” Vopal said.  “Without that protection, there would be no justice and no freedom for many people.”

The right to a jury trial is guaranteed in both the Wisconsin and United States constitutions.  Our legal system has been under systematic attack in recent years, Vopal said.  He pointed to a recent film that explains the value of the U.S. civil justice system and the powerful threats to its functioning.

“WAJ members have recently provided the award-winning 2011 HBO documentary ‘Hot Coffee’ to their local public libraries around Wisconsin,” Vopal said.  “The film shows the importance of the jury trial, a right many people are unfamiliar with until they need a jury to hear their case and seek justice.”

The “Hot Coffee” film can be provided by WAJ to any public library in Wisconsin, Vopal added, and a WAJ volunteer attorney will be available to answer questions at public screenings.  Libraries in Sun Prairie, Madison and Verona have all scheduled free “Hot Coffee” showings soon.

In addition, the American Bar Association provides Law Day materials such as a planning guide, teaching materials and artwork through the following link: www.lawday.org

“I urge all Wisconsin residents to recognize the importance of Law Day and our valuable justice system,” Vopal said.

In creating Law Day in 1958, former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “In a very real sense, the world no longer has a choice between force and law.  If civilization is to survive it must choose the rule of law.”

For more information about the documentary “Hot Coffee,” or about the civil justice system, contact WAJ at (608) 257-5741 or visit www.wisjustice.org.

Law Day 2012: "No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom"

Updated WAJ Auto Insurance Brochure

WAJ has created an updated brochure, "Understanding Auto Insurance," to help Wisconsin drivers protect themselves.  The brochure should help drivers evaluate what coverage they may need, and the benefits of optional coverage.  It also explains the changes in the law effective November 1, 2011, and what they should ask their insurance agent when they buy or renew a policy.

You can read the auto brochure by browsing our Consumer Resources page, which is found under "the truth about the state of justice" at the top of this page.

"Understanding Auto Insurance" also contains a section about “phantom motor vehicles” that make no physical contact with the insured or with a vehicle the insured is occupying.  Download the brochure to learn more!

Wisconsin Public News Source Offers Customized Stream of Stories for WAJ Members
The Wisconsin Civil Justice Education Foundation has been a proud sponsor of the Wisconsin Public News Service (PNS) since 2005. PNS, which delivers news in the public interest, also offers a customized stream of stories for WAJ members. Each story has a link to the podcast version of a story that should be of interest to our members and is easy to forward. We are able to receive PNS stories on our issues and have them hosted on our website easily accessible for our WAJ members to hear and share with their family, friends and clients. We hope you check back periodically to hear the newest news podcasts from WAJ.  Click here to use this free service.