Editor’s note: Jessica Bowman, who reported this story and covers legal affairs for the Herald, is the daughter of Herb Bowman, one of the speakers at the event.
Members of the legal community and others gathered Thursday in front of the La Plata County Courthouse to mark Law Day – not with a lecture or panel discussion, but with a public rally in defense of the U.S. Constitution.
They joined hundreds of other lawyers rallying across the country in support of the Constitution and in protest of President Donald Trump’s actions, which many say have undermined the democratic principles and institutions on which the country was founded.
“If one man can be allowed to determine for himself what is the law, then every man can,” said civil rights attorney Leonard Davies while addressing the crowd. “That means chaos and then tyranny.”
About 250 people waving flags and holding signs brought energy to the gathering, clapping, cheering and whistling in agreement with the speakers’ remarks.
At noon, there was a brief reading from the Constitution before retired Archuleta County Judge James Denvir led the attorneys in re-administering their Attorney’s Oath of Admission.
He was followed by several speakers who touched on a range of topics, including the importance of an independent judiciary, the protection of individual rights and the necessity of upholding educational policy.
“The rule of law is foundational to our democracy and vital for the future of our children,” said former Colorado Rep. Barbara McLachlan of Durango. “It is especially significant in the realm of education, both here in Colorado and across the nation.”
Under the law, all students are guaranteed access to a quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances, McLachlan said. Changes made to education policy in the past 100 days could lead to a “fragmentation of the educational landscape” and, subsequently, the erosion of democracy, she said.
McLachlan’s comments underscored the rally’s central message: The rule of law, as laid out in the Constitution, is a cornerstone of American society and touches the lives of every person who sets foot on U.S. soil.
The U.S. justice system also touches the lives of those far beyond its borders.
“Around the world, up until January 2025, the foundational elements of the U.S. justice system were widely admired and often emulated,” said Herb Bowman, a prosecutor who spent more than 20 years directing U.S. government sponsored rule of law development programs overseas.
He said the American legal system has had immense influence in emerging democracies and has been a global leader in the development of new approaches to dispute resolution.
“But now, in April 2025, the world looks on and wonders if the U.S. justice system was worthy of admiration and emulation as they watch the destructive actions of our government,” he said. “I talk to colleagues around the world almost every day, and they ask, what the heck has happened to the U.S.? Will the rule of law in the U.S. survive?”
Law Day is a national observance dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of the American legal system. It was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958, and Congress officially designated May 1 as the national day of recognition in 1961.
Since then, attorneys nationwide have held events, educational opportunities and public outreach campaigns focused on the rule of law.
Each year, the American Bar Association selects a theme to highlight a particular aspect of the law or legal process that resonates with current legal and societal issues.
This year’s theme focused on the U.S. Constitution and its framework, which enshrines America’s collective responsibility in a nation founded on the ideal of “E pluribus unum” – out of many, one.
“It’s the blueprint for our country,” said Brian Schowalter, a Durango defense attorney and one of the rally organizers. “We’re using this day as an opportunity to educate, and to remind ourselves that we have an oath, we have a duty to the Constitution.”
Law Day normally flies under the radar. In past years, Schowalter said he would not have attended any of the Law Day events put on by the Southwest Bar Association.
But this year is different. Both Schowalter and Kate Burke, another event organizer, pointed to the Trump administration’s mass deportations of immigrants without due process – a right enshrined in the Constitution.
“Abrego Garcia is the best example we’ve got right now,” Schowalter said. “Our president is not facilitating his return. He’s defying a court order. And that is just incredibly dangerous.”
Garcia, a Maryland man who fled El Salvador at 16, was legally residing in the U.S. before the Trump administration deported him in defiance of a federal judge’s order. For the past seven weeks, he has been living in an El Salvadoran prison. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the administration must work to facilitate his return – a direction the president has so far ignored.
While the momentum behind this year’s Law Day rally was largely a response to actions of the sitting president, attorneys in attendance emphasized that the issue transcends politics.
“It’s not about a Democratic versus Republican point of view,” Burke said. “It’s about the rule of law and upholding the Constitution, whoever may be in office.”
jbowman@durangoherald.com
