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Mahoning County Law Day celebrations underway

SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter

Published: April 27, 2017

While many bar associations are busy gearing up for May 1 Law Day activities, Mahoning County legal professionals began their celebrations on April 24.

This is the second year in a row that Kathi McNabb Welsh, chief deputy in the clerk’s office at the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, and attorney Tracie Schmidt are serving as co-chairs of the Law Day Committee.

“Although we strive to observe law week as close to the national law week as possible, we try to accommodate the schools, considering vacation and testing schedules as well as our court’s schedule,” said Schmidt, a principal at Friedman & Rummell Co. “We want to make sure that as many schools as possible will have the opportunity to participate.”

The celebrations got underway on Monday, as over 400 students began touring the Mahoning County Courthouse.

“This year it was just seventh and eighth graders that received tours, but the offer does go out to grades five through eight,” said Schmidt.

Participating schools included St. Charles, St. Christine, Holy Family, Boardman Glenwood and Springfield Local.

“The courthouse tours took place from Monday until Wednesday,” said Schmidt. “We broke the students into groups of about 20 per tour guide because we had so many students.

“I took a group of students on a tour Monday morning.”

She said the groups got a chance to stop by the law library, visit courtrooms, watch trials and ask judges questions.

Some legal professionals also visited high school government classes, discussing the profession, Law Day and other key topics.

In keeping with tradition, public and private high school students in Mahoning County were again invited to submit essays on this year’s Law Day theme, “The 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy.”

“According to the ABA President Linda Klein, the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause ‘established the framework for challenging laws and state-sanctioned practices that create or perpetuate inequality,’” said Schmidt.

She said participants were asked to select a landmark equal protection case ranging from Brown v. Board of Education to the recent Obergefell v. Hodges, which granted same-sex couples the right to marry, and discuss its impact on society.

The winners and their families are attending today’s Law Day luncheon at Mt. Carmel Hall and will receive prizes ranging from $500 to $100.

This year’s speaker is attorney Carl Nunziato, a retired U.S. Army Major.

Prior to the luncheon, some high school students are shadowing an attorney and/or touring the Mahoning County Juvenile Court.

“I think our Law Week activities are very impactful,” said Schmidt. “They give students a chance to learn about the entire profession and learn how the judicial system works.

“I can remember attending the Law Day Luncheon, touring the courthouse and having speakers come to my school. In my case it helped me to realize that I wanted to be a lawyer.”


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