ALBANY — Law Day is commemorated annually on May 1 to highlight the rule of law and the freedoms that Americans hold dear. In celebration of Law Day 2024, the Unified Court System’s Office for Justice Initiatives-Division of Access to Justice has partnered with the Historical Society of the New York Courts to invite high school students statewide to participate in an art contest inspired by the American Bar Association’s 2024 Law Day theme, “Voices of Democracy.”

This year’s Law Day theme underscores the importance of participating in elections by deepening citizens’ understanding of the elections process, discussing the issues with family, friends and others in a civil manner and helping move the country forward after the election process.

“The Office for Justice Initiatives and the entire New York State Court System, under the leadership of Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson and Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas, are strongly committed to the creation and expansion of civic education programs and other efforts, such as the Law Day Art Contest, that help spur civic engagement, especially among our young people,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina G. Richardson. “We are most grateful to the Historical Society of the New York Courts for its partnership and support in rolling out this year’s contest,”

“We’ve been extremely impressed by the extraordinarily creative — and thoughtfully rendered — works submitted by the young artists who participated in our Law Day Art Contest in previous years,” Richardson added. “We encourage budding artists of high school age throughout the state’s 62 counties to take part in the New York state Courts’ Law Day 2024 Art Contest and very much look forward to this year’s submissions.”

“Civics education, including learning about the rule of law and the role of the judiciary in our democracy, has never been more essential,” said Dr. Julia Rose Kraut, resident education fellow at the Historical Society of the New York Courts. “The Law Day Art Contest presents a wonderful opportunity for high school students to use their creativity and knowledge to produce a work of art that reflects their understanding of democracy and their voices in it, as well as the importance of civic participation, including through voting and self-expression.”

Submissions should be original pieces of art that depict what the Law Day 2024 theme means to the artist. All submissions must be received by April 11, 2024. The winners will be announced on May 1, 2024. First, second, and third prize winners will receive monetary prizes — courtesy of the Historical Society of the New York Courts — and have their artwork featured on the court system’s website at https://ww2.nycourts.gov/ip/nya2j/index.shtml.

For more information, including links to the contest rules and the entry registration form, go to https://tinyurl.com/58dduxrr.