2026 Law Day
The Rule of Law and the American Dream
On May 1, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero hosted the Power of Democracy's Law Day Commemoration in Sacramento and announced the 2026 Civic Learning Awards!
May 1, 2026
The Law Day commemoration included an outreach workshop for courts, a "Rule of Law and the American Dream" Soapbox Showcase, and announcement of the 2026 Civic Learning Awards.
The event was celebrated by judges, educators, students, and parents in the main courtroom of the historic Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building in Sacramento. Here's a brief recap:
Judges representing counties within the Third District Court of Appeal met for an outreach workshop before convening for the Law Day event hosted in the 3DCA main courtroom.
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Butte County
The court hosted its annual Elementary School Mock Trial Program at the North Butte County Courthouse in Chico. Two fifth-grade classes took part in a courtroom-style mock trial based on a script written by Chico High School students and centered on the Declaration of Independence. See news Release -
Imperial County
The Superior Court of Imperial County will bring together local justice partners, food and craft vendors, attorneys, and community members for an afternoon of education and collaboration. In addition to the event, the court is sponsoring several contests that engage students in the theme of Law Day. In the News -
Los Angeles County
The Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) hosted a special Law Day program, “What Is the Rule of Law?”, on Friday, May 1, 2026, bringing together members of the legal community for a timely and thought-provoking discussion. In the News (with Video) -
Nevada County Superior Court hosted 175 5th graders at the Nevada City Courthouse on May 7. See news release.
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Orange County (Orange County Department of Education)
Through workshops with judges and attorneys, local students explored real-world legal issues and potential careers in law at the 44th annual Law Day Conference, hosted by the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County. In the News -
San Benito County
The Superior Court of San Benito County invited students in grades 9-12 to participate in its annual essay contest based on the theme, "The Rule of Law and the American Dream." The Law Day ceremony took place on May 1, 2026. In the News -
San Luis Obispo County
The San Luis Obispo County Superior Court joined the rest of the country in recognizing Law Day and celebrating the rule of law. To mark the occasion, local students competed in an essay contest. Out of 150 submissions, first and second place winners were selected from middle and high school. In the News (with Video) -
Santa Clara County
The Superior Court of Santa Clara County partners with the Santa Clara Bar Association each year to host a video contest for local youth. The highest-scored entries are promoted on the court's website, and each winner receives a prize. View winners here.