The State Bar of Texas has announced the winners of the annual Law Day editorial, photography, and poster contests this month.

Law Day is celebrated annually across the country on May 1 to honor the rule of law and underscore how the legal process contributes to the freedoms that all Americans share.

The State Bar Texas and the Texas Young Lawyers Association celebrate the importance of law and its impact on our nation and local communities by hosting the K-12th grade statewide editorial, photo, and poster contests based on the American Bar Association Law Day yearly theme. Local bars and young lawyer affiliates are encouraged to hold local contests and submit their winners in each category to the State Bar for the statewide contest.

This year’s theme, “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration,” encouraged students to reflect on tensions in our democratic system by depicting ways the rule of law can further promote overcoming differences, resolving disputes, and collaboration to preserve our democracy and republic. The State Bar contest winners who creatively interpreted the national theme, will all be recognized at texasbar.com/lawday and in the July issue of the Texas Bar Journal.

Below is an excerpt from the editorial of first-place winner Nicholas Nguyen, of Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Care Professions, in Houston, representing the Houston Bar Association:

Discourse Drives Democracy

By Nicholas Nguyen

“…Through respectful collaboration instead of unconditional opposition, the differences between parties will become a tool for progress instead of a hindrance to it. By pursuing civility and the courtesies of organized debate, American politics will return to the Founding Father’s vision of a society grown through forums of discussion.

While some argue that partisan collaboration is an idealistic dream, history has proven the success

of the collaboration between parties in several distinct eras. In the 1900s, numerous Republican senators

surpassed their political alignment by voting alongside the Democratic Senators and passing the Civil

Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and nationality…

The American people are rapidly drifting apart. However, by pursuing collaboration between

parties and civil discourse, the wound laid upon American politics will have an opportunity to heal;

returning to the roots of America’s Constitution, our society will flourish in a sea of diverse ideas and

inclusive policymaking.”

To view the complete list of winning entries, photographs, and posters, go to texasbar.com/lawday.