CASSOPOLIS — In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower designated May 1 as Law Day.

This day seeks to strengthen American heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law.

The Cass County Bar Association 2019 Law Day event was attended by lawyers, judges, teachers, school administration, Cass County officials and leaders, as well as other community members.

The event featured keynote speaker and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra, who spoke on the importance of upholding the Constitution, especially the First Amendment, in today’s society.

Liberty Bell award winners were announced and included Dr. Barbara Howes and Preston Collett, who were recognized as trailblazers in supporting and promoting Cass County Courts’ full continuum of problem-solving courts, which include Family Treatment Court, Sobriety Court, Adult Treatment Court, Swift & Sure Sanctions Probation Program, and Mental Health Court.

The Liberty Bell Award is presented to non-lawyers, in conjunction with Law Day, to honor outstanding citizens within the local community who have given of their time and energy to strengthen the effectiveness of the American system of freedom under law, in keeping with the spirit of our Constitution.

Howes was recognized for working collaboratively with Judge Dobrich to establish Cass County’s first problem solving court, Family Treatment Court and then going on to spearhead the other Cass County problem-solving courts as well as taking this movement to the St. Joseph County Courts

Collett was recognized for serving as a Peer Support in the problem-solving court programs having himself graduated from Cass County’s Family Treatment Court and now giving back to others who are working their way through the problem-solving courts.

During the event those who attended saw the unveiling of the Family Treatment Court video and high school and middle school essay contest winners were announced. The essay contest was open to students attending middle school and high school in Cass County. Students were asked to write an essay on “Who does the First Amendment right to Free Speech and Free Press protect and why is that important?”

Carol Montavon Bealor, the president of the Cass County Bar Association, said the idea of the contest is to inspire youth to reflect.

“Cass County Bar Association’s Law Day essay contest is a good way to get students thinking about how the law impacts their everyday lives to get them interested in legal careers or in the law in general to be better informed citizens,” Bealor said.