Law Day 2008 was celebrated in a packed Lycoming County court room, on Thursday, May 1, 2008.  Lycoming County Common Pleas Court Judges Brown, Kieser, Butts, Anderson and Gray, and U.S. District Court Judges Muir and McClure presided at the special session of court.

The program, which has been sponsored by the Lycoming Law Association annually for many years, showcased the winners of the annual essay and artwork contest that is co-sponsored by the LLA and the Lycoming County Paralegal Association. The winners presented their work for the first time to the assembled public.

Judge Dudley Anderson served as the Master of Ceremonies.  Following the tradition of recent years, the "Law Day Singers" offered a rousing rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner."  County Commissioner Jeff Wheeland then read the official 2008 Law Day Proclamation.

Guest of Honor, State Assemblyman Garth Everett, a member of the LLA, presented the keynote speech, on the importance of the rule of law.  LLA President Tammy Taylor welcomed the winning students, their families and teachers, as well as the others assembled in the room.

The student winners were then called on to display their art works or read their essays. The elementary division (grades 1-6) essay topic this year was as follows:

What rules does your school have during recess? Do you believe all of the rules are necessary?

The secondary division (grades 7-12) essay topic this year was:

To what extent do you believe a school can go to protect the safety of the students before violating the rights of the students?

The artwork topic (for all age groups) was The Rule of Law.

The Elementary division winners: (Essays): Alex Schluter, first grade at Schick Elementary School; and Lauren Ohl, fifth grade at McCall Middle School.  (Artwork)  Robbie Barnes, fourth grade, Lyter Elementary School; Anna Lee Hafer, fifth grade, St. John Neumann Regional Academy, Intermediate; Carson Wishard, fifth grade, McCall Middle School; and Maggie Akers, sixth grade; Carl G. Renn Elementary School.

The Secondary division winners: (Essays): Carolyn Whipple twelfth grade and Jillian Jackson, eighth grade South Williamsport Jr/Sr High School; and Alexa Ream eighth grade Jersey Shore Middle School.  (Artwork): Craig Shaner, grade 12, Hughesville High School

At the conclusion of the essay/artwork segment of the ceremony, the Judges expressed their thoughts on the student's work and the importance of Law Day in recognizing the importance of the rule of law in our country. A reception sponsored by the Lycoming County Paralegal Association, in the children’s honor, was held in the Juror's Lounge and brought the assembled group together for pizza and cake.

Following that, another reception was held in the new Lycoming Law Association office and conference facility.

The Law Day ceremony was filmed and will be presented on Comcast channel 71 on May 6 and 8, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.