Monmouth Law Day Celebration

Law Day Announcement

The Monmouth Vicinage, in partnership with the Monmouth Bar Association, celebrated Law Day by hosting several events in May. This year’s national theme, as established by the American Bar Association, is “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One.”  This year’s theme “urges us to take pride in a Constitution that bridges our differences to bring us together as a united nation.”  The Monmouth Vicinage, in partnership with the Monmouth Bar Association, hosted the following Law Day events centered on this theme.

On May 1, the unveiling of the portrait of retired Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman was held at the Monmouth County Courthouse.  Judge Bauman began his judicial career in 2008 and served in all four divisions of the Superior Court during his 16 years on the Bench before his retirement in 2024.  Throughout his 16 years of service, Judge Bauman served for 15 years as Presiding Judge of the Civil (2009-2015; 2021-2023), Criminal (2016-2021) and Chancery (2023-2024) Divisions.

Also on May 1, the Monmouth Bar Association presented attorney Thomas J. Smith III with the Abraham Zager Award for Professionalism. The award is given to a member of the association who has demonstrated excellence in adherence to professional standards of practice, competence, civility and integrity.

On May 29, a Student Law Day Symposium for Monmouth County students was held at the Monmouth County Courthouse.  The Symposium highlighted jury service and featured remarks from Assignment Judge Marc C. Lemieux and a presentation by vicinage Jury Manager Francesca Dannunzio. Criminal Division Presiding Judge Jill O’Malley, Judge Natalie Watson and members of the criminal division hosted a mock trial and mock jury selection focusing on the attorney-conducted voir dire process.

Assignment Judge Lemieux, along with Lester W. Richens, Monmouth County interim executive county superintendent of schools, spoke and presented awards to the student winners of the vicinage’s Law Day art, essay, and poetry contests at the May 29 Law Day Awards and Student Recognition Ceremony at the Monmouth County Courthouse. The Daniel J. O’Hern Mock Trial Award was also presented to this year’s winner, Colts Neck High School.
The Law Day symposium and the awards ceremony are cosponsored by the Monmouth Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and are made possible with funding from the IOLTA Fund of the state bar foundation.

For additional information on Law Day, visit the American Bar Association site below.
Law Day (americanbar.org)

Resources for Educators are available at the site below.
Public Education Homepage (americanbar.org)

Additional information and photos of Monmouth Vicinage’s 2025 Law Day Celebrations.

• Law Day 2025 Symposium Flyer
• Law Day 2025 Symposium Agenda
• Law Day 2025 Student Recognition Program