NORWICH – The 2015 Law Day celebration, organized by the Chenango County Bar Association, was held at the Chenango County courthouse on Friday. Each year, the event pays tribute to those who resolutely uphold the Constitution and rights it guarantees, be they judges, lawyers, community members or students.
Presiding over this year’s event were retired Chenango County Judge Howard Sullivan, Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth B. Garry, and sitting Chenango County Judge Frank B. Revoir.
With an emphasis on preserving law for future generations, special recognition was paid to the Gilbertsville-Mount Upton School District mock trail team, which outperformed teams from all over the county and beyond, and became the winning team of the 2015 mock trial competition. An award was presented by New Vision Law and Government program teacher and Chenango County mock trial coordinator Michael Genute to the 19 students of the G-MU team, as well as their advisors.
The Chenango County Bar Association also awarded another college scholarship – the third one that they have given in the last year. The Bar Association Scholarship is for students who plans to attend college enrolled in a law-focused program.
Law Day carried a special theme this year: the 800th anniversary of the Magana Carta. Signed in 1215, the Magna Carta is a notable legal document that bridged peoples’ liberties with the rule of the King of England.
Judge Garry spoke to the importance of the Magna Carta and its lasting impact on law today. She said that law is “done by a fair and just way, not by fiat, not by imposition of powers from above, but by our own participation.”
“That is the rule of law,” she added. “We take part of it.”
While Law Day is a celebration for all people, it also features a special award – the Liberty Bell Award, which recognizes distinguished contributions to the community by one particular non-lawyer who has demonstrated public understanding of the importance of law in the community.
“The Liberty Bell Award is not given every year,” explained Judge Sullivan. “It is reserved for the right time and the right person ... I cannot emphasize enough that this award is hugely significant.”
This year, the honor went to retired Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino for his unyielding commitment to his profession, community, and family.
Former Norwich Police Chief Robert Mason spoke to Angelino’s dedication to the police force during his 36-year career, recalling personal instances of comradery in Angelino’s early days in law enforcement, and Angelino’s continued service as he worked his way up the ranks.
“Since Joe’s inheritance (of police chief), the number of offenses and seriousness and related violence has increased many times over,” Mason said, noting an increase of criminal nuisance, heroin use and criminal traffic from larger cities over the years. But Angelino has tactfully met those challenges head-on, he added. “Joe Angelino has rebuilt the police department ... Because of his dedication to community and country, we have a professional police agency that is ready to meet the needs, whatever they be and whenever they come up.”
“Joe has dedication and commitment to his family, the profession, and the City of Norwich,” said Angelino’s wife, Kendall Saber. “He is never wavering when it comes to protecting his country, his city, and his brother, whether they be marine or police.”
In receiving the award, Angelino recalled his days as police chief, saying, “There wasn’t a day that went by when I was in the police chief’s office that I would wonder if what we were doing was reasonable or fair ... Those days, sitting in that office, I would get out the Constitution or the Bill of Rights and just read it.”
Angelino served 18 years as the City of Norwich Chief of Police.