FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Justice Lisabeth Hughes Abramson of the Supreme Court of Kentucky will be the keynote speaker for the 2008 Law Day celebration at the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort. The annual event will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, in the chamber of the House of Representatives. The event is open to the public and the media.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Law Day, a nationally designated day for Americans to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process have contributed to the freedoms all Americans share. President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed the first Law Day on May 1, 1958, to strengthen America’s great heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law.

“In our busy world, it is easy to take our legal system for granted,” Justice Abramson said. “It is important for us to remember that the rule of law lays the foundation for a civil society.”

The Supreme Court of Kentucky will host the Law Day ceremony, which will begin with Chief Justice Joseph E. Lambert opening a special court session. Following Justice Abramson’s speech, Supreme Court Clerk Susan Stokley Clary will swear in 150 new Kentucky attorneys. The event will also include an awards presentation for individuals who have contributed to law-related education programs. Distinguished guests from federal and state government and various law-related entities will attend the celebration.  

Justice Lisabeth Hughes Abramson
Lisabeth Hughes Abramson was sworn in as a justice for the Supreme Court of Kentucky in September 2007. She represents Jefferson County, which is the 4th Supreme Court District. Justice Abramson came to the state’s highest court after serving on the Kentucky Court of Appeals for the second time in her career. She was appointed in June 2006 to fill a vacancy in Division 2 of the 4th Appellate District and was subsequently elected to that position in November 2006. She first served as a Court of Appeals judge from 1997 to 1998, following an appointment by then Gov. Paul Patton. From January 1999 until her 2006 appointment to the Court of Appeals, Justice Abramson served as a circuit judge for the 30th Judicial Circuit, which consists of Jefferson County. Before serving as a judge, she practiced law for 15 years, concentrating on business and commercial litigation.

Justice Abramson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville before graduating magna cum laude from the U of L Brandeis School of Law as the Outstanding Graduate of her law school class. She serves as a trustee for the Kentucky Judicial Form Retirement System Board, is a frequent lecturer for the Kentucky Circuit Judges Judicial College and was a member of the Leadership Louisville Class of 2007.