Login | April 23, 2026
Mahoning County Celebrates Law Day 2026
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: April 23, 2026
It’s been more than 65 years since President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially proclaimed May 1 as Law Day in 1958 to celebrate the rule of law and raise awareness about the importance of the legal system.
And with the country marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, many communities and bar associations are placing additional value on the occasion.
This year’s Law Day theme is “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.”
The Mahoning County Bar Association’s weekslong Law Day festivities are designed to expound upon the theme by educating students about the rule of law, and the role the justice system plays in upholding it.
“With the anniversary of our country, the theme of the rule of law is very important,” said Mahoning County Bar Association Law Day Co-chair Kathi McNabb Welsh, chief of the civil division in the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office.
“As a bar association, we are very proud of the legal system and are excited to share that pride with students in our community,” said McNabb Welsh.
As part of the celebration, attorneys have volunteered to visit high school civics/government classes to discuss the inner workings of the justice system.
“Educating the next generation of participants in the justice system is crucial to ensuring that the rule of law continues to provide the protections to our citizens that were fought for nearly 250 years ago,” said Mahoning County Bar Association President T. Scott Kamenitsa Jr., co-founder of Schmidt Kamenitsa.
“As individuals define their dreams, it is our duty as lawyers and judges to educate them about the rule of law,” said Youngstown Municipal Court Administrative/Presiding Judge Carla J. Baldwin, co-chair of the Mahoning County Bar Association Law Day Committee. “That law is responsible for creating fairness and equal opportunity and protecting rights and freedoms.
“No person is above the rule of law, and no person is beneath it. The rule and its core purpose are the protectors of the dream. When that dream is threatened, we lean on the law to move us beyond the threat,” said Judge Baldwin.
In addition to serving as speakers, some lawyers have agreed to provide job shadowing opportunities to students on the morning of April 27, the day of the Law Day luncheon. The students will then accompany them to the event as their guests.
The luncheon gets underway at 11:30 a.m. in the Daniel L. Rossi Auditorium, located on the lower level of the D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center in Mill Creek Park’s Fellows Riverside Gardens.
This year’s keynote speaker is U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio Judge Tiiara N.A. Patton.
While she hasn’t finalized all the details of her speech, Judge Patton said she will be discussing the core principles of the rule of law.
In an email, she stated “an independent judiciary is essential to governance under the rule of law,” adding, “that the perseverance in the rule of law requires a collective commitment to those core principles and will provide the mechanism for everyone to have the ability to fulfill their dreams.”
Judge Patton also plans to include some information about bankruptcy law in her speech, describing it as an “awesome, interesting and intellectually engaging,” practice area.
“My experience with Law Day events in Mahoning, Stark and Cuyahoga counties is that Law Day provides young people with an opportunity to cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal system by engaging with members of the local judiciary and bar,” stated Judge Patton.
“I hope that, in young people’s engagement with the legal system, members of the bar and the judiciary they see representation that opens their imagination to new possibilities in the legal field, judiciary and beyond.”
During the luncheon the winners of the Law Day essay contest will be announced.
High school students who participated were asked to discuss one U.S. Supreme Court case that advanced the rule of law. They also had to provide a recent example of how the rule of law was used to advance freedom and prosperity and one where the rule of law is threatened.
The winner of the contest will be awarded $1,000.
“The essay contest is a highlight of each Law Day celebration,” said Judge Baldwin. “We encourage our high school students to embrace the power of the pen, think critically and share their thoughts and perspectives on what the theme means to them.
“This year’s theme will reveal how our youngest minds identify recent advancements or threats to the rule of law.”
High schools from around the county have been invited to bring up to eight guests to the luncheon, courtesy of the Mahoning County Bar Association Foundation.
In addition to the other events, seventh and eighth grade students will be touring the Mahoning County Courthouse, and one group will get to see the inner workings of the federal court building.
“We are very excited to showcase our beautiful courthouse and help students understand the significance of the hearings and trials that take place within it,” said McNabb Welsh.
“Providing an opportunity for students to see what a typical day in the courthouse entails and the roles that lawyers, judges and court staff play in the justice system gives them an accurate and comprehensive view and encourages them to get involved and consider additional career possibilities that they may not have been exposed to otherwise,” said Kamenitsa.
The April 27 Law Day luncheon is held in conjunction with the downtown service clubs. This year's host is the Youngstown Kiwanis Club.
To learn more about the event, contact Mahoning County Bar Association Executive Director Renee Kenneally at 330-746-2933.