LAW DAY YOSEMITE 2024

VOICES OF DEMOCRACY:
Voting and Fair Elections

The Twelfth Annual Law Day Yosemite was held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley. 

President Eisenhower set May 1 as Law Day to celebrate the rule of law and equal rights. Courts and bar associations across the country now participate in the observance, which generally occurs over several weeks in April and May.

The 2024 Law Day Yosemite included a contest for grammar school students. The theme challenged students from participating schools to consider that for nearly 250 years, Americans have expressed their political views and wishes by speaking their minds and voting in elections.

Keynote speakers included Courtney Progner, County Clerk of Mariposa County, and George Radanovich, former U.S. Representative for California's 19th congressional district, serving from 1995-2011.

     

Students had the opportunity to engage with judges and attorneys to discuss voting laws and processes. One topic was whether they thought the voting age should be lowered, raised, or stay the same. Another discussion topic was mail-in ballots.

Students from Coarsegold Elementary, El Portal Elementary, Florin Academy, Mariposa Elementary, Oak Creek Intermediate, Rivergold Elementary, Woodland Elementary, and Yosemite National Park Valley School participated in the contest. Their submissions were judged on understanding of the subject, originality of thought, argumentation and organization.

 

The contest winners for Law Day Yosemite 2024 are:

Victor Award:


Hailey Karlsen from Rivergold Elementary

Champion Award:


1st Place Art Winner - Alba Khang from Coarsegold Elementary

1st Place Essay Winner - Holly VanLandingham from Oak Creek Intermediate

 

Competitor Award:


2nd Place Art Winner - Skylin Elliot from Coarsegold Elementary

2nd Place Essay Winner - Easton Bullard from Oak Creek Intermediate

 

Honorable Mentions:


Coarsegold Elementary - Teacher: Kearsten Hymer

Rocio Ascencio, Gianna Cozzi, Seneca Hughes, MiaBella Medina, Caroline Mercier, Karmine Ramirez, Roquel Starner


Mariposa Elementary - Teacher: Theresa Kraemer

Hailey Baars, Khloe Reynolds, Sierra Smith


Oak Creek Intermediate - Teacher: Mariah Hatfield

Emily Ginter, Troy Hendrickson, Jonathan Ramirez


Rivergold Elementary - Teacher: Jessica Medrano

Landon Bylow, Leonidas Garcias, Jonathan McCraw, Josh Rangel, Bronson Sidoti, Lailah Tosetti


Woodland Elementary - Teacher: Katie Pike

Liam Fiester

 

 

 

 

Law Day Yosemite 2024 was led by Master of Ceremonies, the Honorable Judge Helena Barch-Kuchta. The Clovis West High School Jazz band performed and students from Yosemite Valley Elementary led everyone in the Pledge of Allegance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Law Day Yosemite is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the Federal Bar Association with the generous support of the National Park Service, Yosemite Conservacy, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Aramark, Costco Wholesale, Jimmy John's, Sun-Maid, The Law Offices of Kevin G. Little, McCormick Barstow LLP, Fear Waddell PC, Chandler Law, Miles Sears & Eanni PC, Frandzel, Wanger Jones Helsley PC, Bee Sweet Citrus, and the Honorable Morrison C. England, Jr.

For more information, please contact Daniel Spohr-Grimes, dspohr-grimes@caed.uscourts.gov or call (916) 930-4036.