Navigation Florida criminal defense lawyers to celebrate Constitution Day with statewide Bill of Rights readings
On Wednesday, September 17, at 12 p.m., chapters of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL) across the state will pause their day to read the Bill of Rights aloud in public spaces. From courthouse steps to historic venues, defense lawyers will gather to honor Constitution Day and remind their communities of the liberties enshrined in the nation’s founding document.
“The United States Constitution is called the supreme law of the land for a reason. Among those reasons are that it creates a checks and balances system so that one branch of government does not overtake or dominate over any other,” said FACDL President Tania Alavi. “Each is distinct and separate from the other. It also reminds us that we all have rights — rights that are guaranteed to everyone, not only the clients we, as criminal defense lawyers serve. As such, we will gather publicly On September 17 to celebrate and remind everyone of the liberties and protections we all have the right to enjoy.”
The Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, guarantees fundamental protections including free speech, due process, the right to counsel, and the right to a fair trial. These protections remain the cornerstone of defense lawyers’ work in holding government accountable and protecting individual freedoms, according to FACDL.
