May 1, 2010 was Law Day. Court officials and Bar Associations all over the country recognized Law Day in a number of ways this year. The theme for this year was: 'Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges.'

BHS winners of the contest received their awards. Left to right are Travis Robbins, Jim Conger, Ryan Cleveland, Chazlyn Brinson, Austin Spooner, Jordan Maxwell, Anne Reynolds and Mary Grace Griffin receiving awards from Bainbridge-Decatur County Bar Association President Brown Moseley.
The Bainbridge-Decatur County Bar Association sponsored an essay contest for all Decatur County high school students. More than forty entries were submitted by students from Bainbridge High School (BHS) and Grace Christian Academy (GCA). On Tuesday, May 6th, the winners were recognized with certificates and cash prizes for the first, second and third place winners.

Lauren Carraway and Elisabeth Soden, winner from GCA, receive congratulations from Ryan Cleveland.
"As we begin the 2nd decade of the 21st century, the law is evolving dramatically as it seeks to shape and adapt to new conditions." said Judge Wallace Cato. "Economic markets are becoming global, transactions require cultural adaptation and understanding, populations are more mobile and communication technologies such as the Internet bridge distances and time zones to form new communities around the world. In such a world, all of us must renew our commitment to the enduring principles of the law."

Judge Cato continued, "I believe the most significant and interesting challenge that confronts the law in the 21st century is addressing the ramifications of widespread electronic ability to create, communicate, store and access large quantities of information."

 
The winners were:

First Place - Mary Grace Griffin, BHS
'Hurt One or Hurt Many?' See Essay

Second Place - Anne Reynolds, BHS
'The 4th Amendment: Not All Searches Need a Warrant' See Essay

Third Place - Jordan Maxwell, BHS
'Maximum Sentence' See Essay

Honorable Mention
Chazlyn Brinson, BHS
'The Unreasonable Search' See Essay

Austin Spooner, BHS
'Law Day' See Essay

Lauren Carraway, GCA
'Zero Tolerance Policy' See Essay

Elizabeth Soden, GCA
'Probable Cause' See Essay

The judges of this essay contest were most impressed with the quality of the papers submitted. The essays were judged on creativity, originality, and development of the legal issue discussed.