A yearly tribute to our nation’s rule of law, Law Day was established in 1958. In 1961, Congress designated May 1 as the official day for celebrating Law Day. Today, May 1, 2026, the New York State Courts will commemorate Law Day at the majestic Court of Appeals Hall in Albany. This year’s theme, “The Rule of Law and the American Dream,” centers on the rights and privileges enabled by the rule of law. Along with Attorney General Letitia James, Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson and Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas will officiate at this year’s ceremony, which includes the presentation of the prestigious Judith S. Kaye Service Awards to exemplary non-judicial employees. The first, second, and third-prize winners of the Law Day 2026 Art Contest—open to high-schoolers statewide and a partnership of the courts’ Office for Justice Initiative and the Historical Society of the New York Courts—will also be announced at the Court of Appeals’ Law Day celebration.
Watch the Recorded Live Stream of the event.