PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Kate McGrath Ellis

Bar reaffirms commitment to public education efforts

“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard for democracy, therefore, is education.” --Franklin D. Roosevelt

As with many of you who grew up in the 1970s and ’80s (yes, I’m aging myself), I learned about the fundamental principles of our democracy — the social contract, separation of powers, checks and balances, the Constitution, the rule of law — in elementary and middle school, primarily through the Schoolhouse Rock videos that were so popular at the time. Who can forget that forlorn vetoed bill slumping on the steps of the U.S. Capitol? At the National Park Service law enforcement academy, I refreshed my civics education by learning about my role — as well as the role of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the judiciary — in upholding constitutional rights. But not until I became an officer of the court did the importance of a public civics education crystallize.

In 2018, the State Bar of Montana (SBM) Board of Trustees reaffirmed the mandate of SBM’s constitution to “safeguard a forum for the discussion of effective action concerning the subjects pertaining to the practice of law… and relations of the bar to the public” by including in its 2018-2020 strategic plan the goal to develop programs, educational aids, and resources to aid the public in understanding the judicial system and the rule of law and to build confidence in public institutions. In support of this goal, the Trustees voted to support the High School Mock Trial Competition, which teaches students about the roles of attorneys and the court in our society, as well as engages the next generation of legal practitioners. This past March, Montana’s Second Annual High School Mock Trial Competition was held virtually and was a resounding success, and the third annual Competition will be held in March 2022.

Recently, SBM’s Board of Trustees, officers, staff, and stakeholders attended SBM’s strategic planning meeting with the task of setting a course for the organization. Chris Newbold of ALPS expertly facilitated the lively and thoughtful discussion, the work product of which is a draft plan for 2021-2023 that will focus in part and again, on SBM’s role in educating the public about our democracy.

Specifically, over the next two years, SBM will continue to safeguard that forum for public education about the rule of law as a crucial underpinning

The State Bar will be reaching out to local bar associations around the state, as well as other educational and nonprofit organizations engaged in public education. We also actively seek out and welcome your input and expertise.