Sussex County Bar Association to host law day celebration

NEWTON — The Sussex County Bar Association will host the annual Law Day celebration on Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the historic Sussex County Court House in Newton. Law Day 2014 will focus on “American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters” in recognition of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

A lecture on this theme of “government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” as eloquently stated by Abraham Lincoln, will be offered by Mark Hontz.

The event also will honor the success of the Mock Trial team from High Point Regional High School, and recognize the Honorable Lorraine C. Parker, J.A.D. with an unveiling of her portrait.

Sussex County Bar Association President Nancy Reading will be on hand to greet all guests.

Parker will be honored for her service to the practice of law. She served as the appointed judge of the Appellate Division from 2001-09.

“I am retired from the bench, but I am not retired from living,” Parker said. “It’s a real privilege to be honored by the Sussex County Bar Association. I am very humbled. Being involved with the field of law is such a privilege. I had a wonderful career.”

Michael Nelms, will be recognized for his long-term participation in the legal assistance and education program at Project Self-Sufficiency.

The Law Day celebration also will recognize the award-winning High Point Regional High School Mock Trial team which finished in first place, beating teams from seven other Sussex County high schools at the competition. The Mock Trial competition is sponsored annually by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation to provide high school students with the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and careful fact analysis. During the event, each team must present a case to a judge, with students serving as witnesses and attorneys. Each team is judged based on their performance, with local attorneys volunteering as coaches.