Law Day, U.S.A., 2016

Proclamation 9428 of April 27, 2016

Law Day, U.S.A., 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Underpinning American democracy and upholding the
founding principles of our Nation, the law enshrines
our bedrock belief in equality and justice for all.
Central to securing these ideals is ensuring that every
American's fundamental, constitutionally-guaranteed
individual rights are protected, and by respecting
these rights, our Nation demonstrates its unwavering
dedication to the law. Our fidelity to the rule of law
has guided our country in times of trial and triumph,
and it helps us keep faith with our Founders and with
generations to come.

On this year's Law Day, we celebrate 50 years since the
Supreme Court's ruling in Miranda v. Arizona. This
landmark decision made clear that the Fifth Amendment
``. . . serves to protect persons in all settings in
which their freedom of action is curtailed in any
significant way from being compelled to incriminate
themselves.'' Miranda v. Arizona institutionalized the
important practice of explaining constitutional rights
prior to interrogation. And it established the
important general rule that individuals interrogated in
police custody cannot have their answers admitted into
evidence against them unless they had first been
informed of their rights--including the right to remain
silent and the right to have an attorney present.

The Court's decision in Miranda v. Arizona affirmed
that ``Equal Justice Under Law'' is more than just
words, but a cornerstone of our Nation's legal system--
the idea that no matter who you are or where you come
from, you will be treated equally and afforded due
process. Today, our society faces new challenges to
this age-old tenet. Our criminal justice system is in
serious need of reform; disparities in stops, arrests,
and sentencing persist; and in too many places distrust
exists between community members and law enforcement
officers. I am committed to ensuring our Nation's
criminal justice system is fair, smart, and effective.
By engaging people across America, my Task Force on
21st Century Policing has provided a roadmap for
strengthening relationships between local police and
the communities they serve, helping to uphold the
integrity of our criminal justice system. My
Administration has also taken action to address unfair
sentencing disparities that undermine the equitable
application of the law, and we will continue working to
bring greater fairness to our criminal justice system
and to ensure that the rule of law remains the
foundation of our country.

Miranda v. Arizona imparts an important lesson:
Knowledge of our constitutional rights is an essential
component to fully exercising those rights.
Safeguarding the promise of equal justice requires the
participation of all our citizens, and across America,
community and court programs that offer civic education
and prepare members of the public to fulfill their
civic responsibilities are vital to this task.

Chief Justice Earl Warren, the author of the Supreme
Court's decision in Miranda v. Arizona, once observed
that, ``In civilized life, law floats in a sea of
ethics.'' The law informs right from wrong--it affects
the daily reality of our lives and safeguards the
birthrights of all Americans. On Law Day, let us
recommit to building a future rooted in the rule of
law,

in which our laws apply equally to everyone and all our
children know a fair and just world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, in accordance with Public Law
87-20, as amended, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2016, as
Law Day, U.S.A. I call upon all Americans to
acknowledge the importance of our Nation's legal and
judicial systems with appropriate ceremonies and
activities, and to display the flag of the United
States in support of this national observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.