The role of the law in protecting citizens of the United States is always the focus of Law Day.

In Hastings this year, Judge Mark T. Boonstra from the Third District Court of Appeals was keynote speaker. Traditionally it is also the day the Liberty Bell is presented to a deserving person.

The award in 2017 was given to Jan McLean, retired executive director of the Barry County Community Health Authority (see related story).

 

Judge Amy McDowell welcomed the crowd to the annual Law Day recognition at the Barry Community Foundation Monday. The idea of a Law Day was first proposed by the American Bar association in 1957 to honor the role of law in the United States. Congress passed a joint resolution establishing May 1 as Law Day in 1961, she said.

 

The theme for the 2017 Law Day is “Transforming American Democracy: the 14^th Amendment,” which McDowell noted is the foundation of many civil rights.

Barry County Bar Association President Bob Byington, added that the 14th Amendment includes due process and other protections for the nation’s citizens, and is one of the most litigated amendments to the Constitution.

 

Byington introduced keynote speaker, Judge Mark T. Boonstra, who sits on the Third District Court of Appeals. Boonstra, in private practice for 27 years before being appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2102, won a full six year term in 2014. He attended Michigan State University and earned his law degree from University of Michigan.

 

Boonstra, 59, said the 14^th amendment has four main sections, but Section One is the most well known. It assures that the State will make no laws which will take privileges or immunities of its citizens or deprive any person of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness without due process of the law or deny any person equal protection of the law.

 

Boonstra talked of several very different cases which he heard. One was a complaint by residents that a neighborhood bar and grill’s music was too loud, a case where teens broke into a house and stole marijuana, another terminating parental rights, one where her refusal to accept a blood transfusion led to a woman’s death, and another where two factions in a church were both fighting for control of the church.  Each of the cases turned on the protections in the 14^th Amendment.

“As you can see, the 14^th Amendment really does affect what we do in the real world,” he said.

 

Photos: (upper left) Judge Mark T. Boonstra, Third District Court of Appeals, was featured speaker at Law Day.

 

(Center left) Judge Mark Boonstra (left) enjoys a laugh with 87^th District Rep Julie Calley and Barry County Bar Association President Attorney Bob Byington.

 

(Lower left) Barry County Chief Judge William Doherty talks with Judge Mark Boonstra, Third District Court of Appeals,  before the Law Day program begins.