SLS 16RS-2011 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 80
BY SENATOR CLAITOR
SENATE. Recognizes May 1, 2016, as Law Day in the state of Louisiana.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To recognize May 1, 2016, as Law Day in the state of Louisiana.
3 WHEREAS, Law Day is an occasion of public acknowledgment of our nation's and
4 state's heritage of justice, liberty and equality under the law; and
5 WHEREAS, Law Day has been annually proclaimed by the President of the United
6 States since Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed the first Law Day on May 1, 1958; and
7 WHEREAS, the United States Congress in 1961 encoded the presidential practice
8 into law, statutorily designating May first as Law Day; and
9 WHEREAS, the American Bar Association has identified the 2016 Law Day theme
10 as "Miranda: More than Words"; and
11 WHEREAS, the year 2016 marks the fiftieth anniversary of a milestone in legal
12 history, the United States Supreme Court's landmark 1966 decision in Miranda v. Arizona,
13 concluding that statements made by a suspect in police custody are generally inadmissible
14 if the suspect has not been made aware of his or her Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights; and
15 WHEREAS, in response to this decision, law enforcement personnel throughout the
16 country provide a Miranda Warning to suspects in custody apprising them of their right to
17 remain silent, their right to an attorney, and their right to appointed counsel in cases where
18 they cannot afford an attorney; and
Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 80
SLS 16RS-2011 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, the Miranda Warning has become one of the nation's most recognizable
2 legal expressions and a symbol of procedural fairness that represents much more than just
3 the words of the warning; and
4 WHEREAS, the criminal justice system still faces many challenges and we must all
5 rededicate ourselves to the great goal of ensuring that it provides fair and equal treatment for
6 all; and
7 WHEREAS, promoting public understanding of the roots of our freedom are an
8 important component in the civic education of the citizens of the United States and of the
9 state of Louisiana.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
11 does hereby recognize May 1, 2016, as Law Day in the state of Louisiana.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SR 80 Original 2016 Regular Session Claitor
Recognizes May 1, 2016, as Law Day in Louisiana.
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