Colorado Springs- The El Paso County Bar Association  is hosting a Distinguished Panel to Discuss: American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters

The El Paso County Bar Association (EPCBA) invites the Public to join us at our Law Day event on May 2, 2014 for the first of its’ kind discussion about voting rights in Colorado ‘springs. This event will host a distinguished panel of guests including: Gregg Hobbs, Colorado Supreme Court Justice; Rita Lewis, Esq. – President of NAACP/Denver Branch; Toni Larson, PhD – Board Member/National League of Women Voters; and John Suthers, Esq./Colorado Attorney General.

According to the American Bar Association, “One of our most cherished national ideals, expressed eloquently by Abraham Lincoln, is “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. It is a principle enshrined in our nation’s founding documents, from the Declaration of Independence’s assurance that governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed, to the opening three words of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, “We the People”. Continued on next page

The right to vote is the very foundation of government by the people. For this reason, striving to establish and protect every citizen’s right to vote has been a central theme of American legal and civic history. Much of the struggle for voting rights began decades ago, but the work is far from complete, and a citizen’s right to cast a ballot remains at risk today.

EPCBA President Yolanda Fennick states “As we approach the 50th anniversaries of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the 2014 Law Day theme, American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters, calls on every American to reflect on the importance of a citizen’s right to vote and the challenges we still face in ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to participate in our democracy.”

The EPCBA Law Day Luncheon will be held at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort and Conference Center, located at 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. The program is scheduled from 11:00am until 1:00pm. A plated lunch will be served and an awards ceremony will follow the panel discussion and Justice Gregory Hobbs will also present certificates to Law Firms that met or exceeded their commitment to provide pro bono services to the community. Several Colorado Supreme Court Justices are expected to attend the event.

The El Paso County Bar Association invites the Public to join us at this historic event! Every participant will receive a free EPCBA Attorney Directory and The Pocket Guide to The Constitution while supplies last.

The El Paso County Bar Association is a professional association for attorneys that have been serving the local legal community since its founding in March 1902. The Bar Association’s mission is to provide legal information and services to its members and to promote respect for the law and the legal profession by the public. The El Paso County Bar Association celebrates 112 years of service to the Pikes Peak Region.

For more information and/or to register for the event, visit the EPCBA website: www.elpasocountybar.org