Law Day recognizes and celebrates the importance of the rule of law. As members of the legal community, it is part of our responsibility to educate the public about the law. As the current president of the Illinois Judges Association, the statewide organization representing the interests of more than 1,200 active and retired judges, I am proud that our association takes an active role in educational programs that promote public trust and confidence in the judiciary. I am also thankful for the leadership in bar organizations like the Illinois State Bar Association, The Chicago Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and others for their roles in speaking out against injustice and upholding the rule of law. I am confident that with their continued leadership, we can ensure that Rev. Martin Neimöller’s quote warning against the dangers of complacency and inaction will not become a reality. The theme for Law Day 2017, The 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy, underscores the need for such continued leadership in our bar organizations, in our legal community and in our country.