[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
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

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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.
BARACK OBAMA