American democracy and the rule of law

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– LEGAL NEWS PHOTOS BY DIANA L. COLEMAN


Law Day 2014: Why every vote matters

By Diana L. Coleman
Legal News

On May 1, Muskegon County Bar Association (MCBA) hosted a very successful Law Day 2014 program presenting more scholarships and gifts than ever before. The increase is made possible by the bar association’s generous contributions to the Muskegon County Bar  Association Law Education fund, and the support of sponsors.

As a result, the event had a very full agenda, so there was no keynote speaker to reflect on the Amerian Bar Association-designated theme for the day, American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters, but the day reflected a belief in the democratic process nonetheless.

Muskegon County Prosecutor and MCBA President, D. J. Hilson, served as Law Day 2014 Chairman and was assisted by Jenny McNeill, Heidi Hagen, Rachel Terpstra, Kevin Huss, David Kortering, Jennifer Hylland, Alana Wiaduck, Honorable Maria Ladas-Hoopes, John Noling, and Christina Klinsley.  David Klemm of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) also helped the committee.

Scholarships to high school seniors totaled $37,750. This year the bar association, with the assistance of Noling (a former teacher) and Klemm, received a tremendous response from area students. Twenty-five student submissions were presented to the committee, which was composed of attorney John McKendry, Honorable Michael Nolan and D.J. Hilson. The winners were: Samantha Swanson of Ravenna High School ($2000), Kathryn Beemer, Mona Shores High School ($1000), Landon Fortenberry, Reeths-Puffer High School ($500), and Alex Weglarz of Holton High School ($250).

Eighteen students in grades nine through eleven submitted entries in the high school speech contest.  The law day committee created a new category for those students, and gifts were awarded to first through fourth place. The gifts were an Ipad Air, Ipad Mini, $100, and $75 respectively.  The MCBA has never experienced so many submissions for the high school speech contest.  That committee, consisting of the Judge  Ladas-Hoopes, Jerry Conrad, and Alisha Riedl, were pleased to listen as each of the eighteen students presented their speeches. The winners were: first place - Jenny Anton, Mona Shores; second place - Elise Maine, Calvary Christian; third place - Rhian Williams, Mona Shores; and fourth place - Antwan Moore, Muskegon Heights.

The MCBA presented the remaining 35 students whodid not place in the speech contest categories with a pre-paid gift card.

The middle school essay contest provided cash awards to Danica Rutz ($100), Muskegon Catholic Central; Ashley Morse ($75), NBC Middle School; Chloe McCarthy ($50), Whitehall Middle School; and Braley Johnson ($25), Whitehall Middle School, listed in first through fourth place respectively.

The elementary school art contest chair, attorney Rachel Terpstra, selected the four student art submissions that won the contest. Winners were Wyatt Kevern, North Muskegon Elementary ($75); Brandon Bradford, Edgewood Elementary ($50); Hannah Oltof, Ross Park Elementary ($25); and Blaine Dietrich, North Muskegon Elementary ($25). Oltof and Dietrich tied for third place and were each given an award.

In addition to educational awards, the MCBA gave the 2014 Golden Apple Award to Deeann Skov, Fruitport High School social studies teacher. Skov will receive a $500 gift to be used in her classroom for promotion of law-related topics. The award was presented by Fruitport High Principal, Rob Rogers.

The Frank D. Scott Award was presented by Jason Carlson for outstanding service in the field of probation (state and local) to Denise Tyler, who has served as Muskegon County probation officer for six years. Tyler also served ten years at the Department of Human Services, three years in juvenile court as well as at the Muskegon County juvenile home. Carlson described Tyler as an outstanding probation officer who gives her all to help offenders transition back into civil life.  Tyler thanked the bar association for the award saying, “I have worked for many caring and committed supervisors during my career and I thank them for their mentorship.”

Attorney Anna Urick-Duggins nominated David Eling, the Director of Muskegon County Department of Veterans Affairs, for this year’s Liberty Award, presented to a non-attorney citizen who promotes the “Rule of Law” and works zealously in the community to help promote the role of law in our society. The award was presented by D. J. Hilson, who has worked closely with Eling for a number of years. Hilson also acknowledged nine former Liberty Bell Award winners present, including Bob Scholnik, Rosemary Stellino, Arn Boezaart, and Bob Carter.

Each year the recipient also receives a red, white, and blue tie.  Eling just happened to show up at the ceremony with a red, white, and blue tie exactly like those ties.  Former Sheriff Bob Carter greeted Eling and asked him, “What year did you win the Liberty Bell Award?”  Eling, not knowing the tradition of the tie, was not sure what Carter was talking about, but did share that he was receiving the award this year.

The committee was so pleased to present the award to Eling who was instrumental in establishing the Muskegon County Veteran’s Treatment Court (the first certified court in the State of Michigan) and shared that Muskegon County’s Veteran’s court is being used as a model around the state.

David Eling now owns two red, white, and blue ties.

A special memorial tribute was given to Frank D. Scott, the former State of Michigan probation office who worked in the Muskegon and Ottawa County area for 36 years.

Scott dedicated his career to believing in his offender’s ability to pursue life positively and build himself or herself into a productive citizen. Scott passed away in January 2014.  Scott was a former Liberty Bell award recipient (1982) and always remembered to wear his red, white, and blue tie to Law Day each year. The Honorable Neil G. Mullally had created the Frank D. Scott Award in 2009 by to pay tribute to those serving in the field of probation, with the first award being presented to Frank D. Scott, the award’s namesake.  There is a plaque at the Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice bearing the name of each recipient since the award’s establishment.

Peg West of Mlive (shown below) then paid tribute to Paula Holmes-Greeley, who also passed away in 2014.  West said, “We will miss her as an associate and as a tremendous advocate for students.  Her passing is a loss to the community and she always enjoyed working diligently on the annual Law Day event.”

The 2014 Law Day program was extremely well-attended by bar association members, judges, students and teachers, contestant parents, and members of the community. MCBA President Hilson did an excellent job of hosting the event and interacting with the students as they came forward to receive their awards.

As there was not an invocation on the program agenda, Judge Nolan called Hilson over and suggested that attorney Dan Bonner (a prior seminary student) would be happy to present the invocation. The photo of Bonner at the table reflects the look of shock when Hilson unexpectedly called him to the podium to pray. It seems there is always a bit of fun along with the seriousness of the occasion.

 

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