Login | April 23, 2026
ABA president launches 2026 Law Day program
Published: April 23, 2026
Law Day, which is commemorated every year on May 1st celebrates the rule of law and the role that our legal institutions play in sustaining American democracy.
This year’s Law Day theme is “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.”
Most Americans have their own version of the American Dream, which may emphasize personal freedom, social equality or economic opportunity for themselves and their families.
But every vision of the American Dream requires the stable legal system built on the rule of law.
The rule of law--the idea that no person is above the law and no one is beneath it--is what ensures the rights of people to live their lives as freely as possible and to pursue their dreams.
The rule of law ensures that people are free to pursue their economic interests and achieve financial independence; people are secure in their homes and property; safe from both criminal and improper government overreach and people can rely on courts to enforce agreements and contracts in the marketplace for their jobs, their rent and mortgages, for insurance and countless other daily necessities.
In short, the rule of law is essential to the freedom and prosperity that Americans have aspired to throughout the nation’s history.
Indeed, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence this year, we recognize that while the nation’s founding documents asserted that all men are created equal with inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the American Dream means that these rights include all people.
The ABA encourages all Americans, especially the legal community, to join us in recognizing Law Day on May 1, 2026, and reflecting on the importance of the rule of law in ensuring all Americans have the ability to fulfill their dreams.