Law Day contest winners to be recognized at Washington courthouse
Law Day contest winners and the recipient of the 2026 Liberty Bell Award will be celebrated at the Public Law Day Celebration to be held at 6 p.m. May 27 at the Washington County Courthouse. The event is free and open to the public and will feature a special prominent figure from America’s history and a dessert reception.
The contests are co-sponsored by the Observer-Reporter, and all winning entries will be featured in a special Law Day-themed feature in the May 23 edition of the newspaper. Winning billboard entries – as well as a select few entries from other entry categories – will be displayed on the billboard at the intersection of Racetrack Road and Route 19 through the end of May.
Law Day was established in 1958 to strengthen our nation’s heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under the law. Law Day is officially on May 1, although it is being celebrated in Washington County throughout the month of May. Additional Law Day events will be held through July in honor of America’s 250 anniversary. This year’s theme “America 250: Honoring our Founding and Dreaming for the Future” commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Law Day activities and awards are coordinated by the Bar Association’s Public Relations and Education Committee, chaired by attorney Rachel Lozosky.
The 2026 Liberty Bell Award recipient is Scott Berry, the Mental Health Director of Crisis, Emergency, and Disaster Services for Washington County’s Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The Liberty Bell Award is presented annually to non-lawyers for “outstanding service in promoting a better understanding of our form of government, encouraging respect for law and the courts, stimulating individual responsibilities, contributing to the effective functioning of government and developing an appreciation of the rule of law.”
Contest winners and their families, teachers and school representatives, and the public are encouraged to RSVP for the May 27 Law Day Celebration by calling the Washington County Bar Association at 724-225-6710 or by email to wcba@washcobar.org.