May 1 marks Law Day, a day set aside each year to recognize a simple but powerful idea: in America, we are governed by laws, not by any one individual.
Law Day was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and later designated by Congress in 1961. The purpose was to highlight what makes our country unique. At its core, the rule of law means no one is above the law, and the same rules apply to everyone. It sounds straightforward, but maintaining that principle requires constant vigilance.
Law Day then and now is a time to reflect on equality and justice under law. That idea has endured because it captures something essential about how our system is meant to function. It serves to remind us that the rule of law works only if we the people are willing to support those principles.
Judges serve a clear role in our government as a check against overreach by the other branches. They decide cases based on the law and the facts—not politics, not public pressure, not headlines. That independence is not about protecting judges. It is about protecting the people who rely on the courts to be fair and impartial.
Here in Florida, our courts play a vital role in resolving disputes that affect everyday lives — families, businesses, property, and communities. Most of this work never makes the news. It is careful, methodical, and often out of public view. But it is this steady work that builds public trust over time.
When courts can do their job without outside influence, they help safeguard our rights, resolve disagreements peacefully, and maintain balance in our system of government. When that independence is questioned or weakened, confidence in the fairness of the system begins to erode — and that has real consequences for each of us.
As a former Justice and Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, I have seen firsthand how important it is that judicial decisions are grounded in the law alone. Not every decision is popular. That is not the point. What matters is that the process is fair, consistent, and impartial. That is what allows people to accept outcomes, even when they disagree.
Law Day gives us a moment to pause and reflect on these principles. It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day noise of public debate, but moments like this remind us what makes our country unique. It is not just elections or institutions— it is a shared commitment to the rule of law. And that responsibility does not rest only with lawyers or judges. It belongs to all of us.
The more we understand how our courts work — and why their independence matters — the stronger and more reliable our system will be. These are not abstract ideas. They shape our rights, our communities, and how we resolve differences.
That is one reason I joined the nonpartisan civic education efforts of Keep Our Republic and the Alliance of Former Chief Justices—to help more people better understand our courts and the role they play in our democracy.
As we observe Law Day, it is worth returning to Eisenhower’s original vision. The strength of our Republic depends not only on the principles we affirm, but on whether we are willing to live by them — day in and day out.
Barbara Pariente served as Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court from 2004-2006 and served on the Florida Supreme Court from 1998-2019. She is a member of Keep Our Republic’s Alliance of Former Chief Justices, which advocates in support of the rule of law.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Law Day celebrates the rule of law | Opinion
Reporting by Barbara Pariente, Opinion Contributor / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
