State Courthouse Dedication Speech Regarding United States Constitution
February 21, 2007
Friends,
We have gathered today to dedicate the declaration of independence, the United States constitution and the bill of rights in this, "our courthouse."
I say "our courthouse", because this court house belongs to all of us.
As lawyers we each took a solemn oath and in it we stated: "I do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States, and of this state; that I will honestly demean myself in the practice of the law, and I will discharge my duties to my clients to the best of my ability. So help me God."
As lawyers we all took this solemn oath at one time or another.
On May 27, 1983, some 23 years ago, I took this solemn oath in the old courthouse. The honorable judge Myron Love swore me in.
When we become lawyers we swear a solemn oath to god almighty to support the constitution of the United States.
It is no accident, that when we take our solemn oath as lawyers, the very first thing that we swear to do, is to support the constitution of the United States.
As American lawyers, supporting the United States constitution is always our first and last obligation.
What does it mean to support the United States constitution?
What does support mean? It means to uphold, it means to keep from falling, it means to maintain and ultimately it means to defend.
These are active verbs.
They are not passive.
They require action on all of our parts.
In order to support the constitution we must each actively defend the constitution.
We took a solemn oath and we are duty bound to follow that oath.
We must daily defend the constitution. This is not something that we can put off.
It is something that we must do today, tomorrow and everyday thereafter, as long as we are lawyers.
We must defend the constitution, no matter what our role in the criminal justice system.
No matter what our role in the criminal justice system, we must stand in defense of the constitution.
We must stand up against those who would violate the constitution.
And make no mistake; our constitution and our bill of rights are under constant attack.
We must be honest with ourselves about this.
In the criminal justice system we must fight at all cost, any and all, measures that erode our constitution and our bill of rights.
We must fight any system, no matter where it is found, if it includes:
-police brutality, (or)
-unreasonable bonds, (or)
-unreasonable bond conditions, (or)
-manipulations of the grand jury, (or)
-unreasonable searches, (or)
-presumptions of guilt, (or)
-ineffective assistance of counsel, (or)
-the denial of due process, (or)
-cruel and unusual punishments
We must recognize that any such system, is contrary to the constitution and the bill of rights, and we must fight any such system wherever it be found.
We must never forget that no matter what our roles in the criminal justice system, we are lawyers first.
We must never forget that no matter what our role in the criminal justice system, our sacred oath and our primary obligation is to defend the constitution.
The declaration of independence, the constitution and the bill of rights embody our most fundamental law.
The constitution and the bill of rights protect the liberty we all hold so dear.
Generations before us have fought for our liberty and paid the ultimate price time after time.
They fought here and in Europe and in far off fields so that we might enjoy liberty.
These generations before us paid too high a price, for us not to do our part.
So let us honor those who have come before us, by doing our part.
We gave our solemn word, as lawyers, that we would support the constitution.
We can do no less than to keep our word.
Without our word we are nothing.
So let these documents shine upon each of us and inspire us to do our best.
May we each do our best whether we are judges, prosecutors, or defense lawyers.
May we do our best to uphold the constitution of the United States of America.
May we do our best for our country.
May we do our best for our neighbors.
May we do our best for our friends and families.
May we do our best for each other.
And may we do our best for ourselves, as we uphold the constitution of the United States.
Today we honor the declaration of independence, the constitution of the United States and the bill of rights.
Let us remember this day.
Let us remember daily, the solemn oath we took as lawyers.
Let us remember daily, that we are united by these documents.
Let us remember daily, that we are united by our constitution.
Let us remember daily, that as lawyers, we may be adversaries, but we are never enemies.
Let us remember daily, that we are united by our common unshakeable love of liberty.
Thank you for coming.
Robert Fickman
President HCCLA
