Law Day 2011 celebrates the historical and contemporary role of the jurist in protecting the basic legal rights of the accused, the profound importance of the fundamental principle of the rule of law, and the legal community’s respect for and adherence to same, even in cases involving “unpopular” clients and matters that set off public tumult and civil unrest.
A stellar example of a jurist with unwavering faith in, and commitment to enforcing, due process, even in the face of political suicide, was Judge James Edwin Horton, who presided over the infamous “Scottsboro Boys” trial.
