The Louisiana Supreme Court will be celebrating Constitution Day 2023 by offering free pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution to visitors of the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse. From Monday, September 18th to Friday, September 22nd, anyone who visits the courthouse, located at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans' French Quarter, will receive a pocket-sized version of the document.
Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17th each year, in remembrance of the day the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787. It is a time to honor the 39 Founding Fathers who signed and adopted the document that recognizes the rights of all citizens in the country. Many courts and organizations across the nation participate in Constitution Day to pay tribute to this significant moment in history.
Chief Justice John L. Weimer emphasized the importance of the U.S. Constitution, stating, "Courts throughout Louisiana give reverence daily to the U.S. Constitution." In commemoration of its 236th anniversary, many Louisiana judges will be visiting schools and inviting students to courtrooms for educational discussions on the significance of the Constitution.
In addition to distributing pocket-sized Constitutions, the Louisiana Supreme Court encourages visitors to explore the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum and the Law Library of Louisiana. Both of these exhibits are open to the public from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. While cell phones are permitted, food, drink, and cameras are not allowed within the premises.
The Louisiana Supreme Court, consisting of Chief Justice John Wimer and associate Justices William Crain, Scott Crichton, James Genovese, Jay McCallum, Jefferson Hughes III, and Piper Griffin, is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the judiciary and ensuring the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar. Constitution Day serves as an opportunity for the court to highlight the importance of the U.S. Constitution and educate the public on its significance in shaping the nation's laws.