Attorneys from the Minnesota State Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, and Ramsey County Bar Association will gather at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis on May 1 to reaffirm their commitment to the rule of law by retaking their Attorney’s Oath.
The event is part of national Law Day celebrations and aims to highlight the importance of upholding the Constitution and ensuring access to justice. The legal profession’s role in supporting democracy will be emphasized during this nonpartisan gathering, which is open to members of the public.
Participants will include Michelle Behnke, President of the American Bar Association; Dr. Robert Vischer, President of the University of St. Thomas; Hon. James Rosenbaum (ret.), U.S. District Judge for Minnesota; and Tom Pack, President of MSBA. During his remarks, Pack said: “When lawyers, judges, and community members stand together, we send a powerful message that the rule of law must be protected. Retaking the Minnesota Attorney’s Oath is more than symbolic. This is a public recommitment to the values that define the legal profession.”
The event reflects this year’s Law Day theme from the American Bar Association: “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.” The theme focuses on core values such as freedom, safety and security, opportunity, family and belonging, fairness and accountability—values that are enabled by mechanisms like checks and balances in government power and independent courts.
Law Day has been observed annually since its establishment by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 as a way for Americans to recognize law’s role in society.
According to its official website, the Minnesota Bar Association promotes equity, diversity and inclusion within its membership while enhancing cultural wellbeing across communities it serves throughout Minnesota. The association operates under a Board of Governors structure with programs designed for professional growth among more than 14,000 attorneys as well as other legal professionals statewide.
