Closing statements: What does the rule of law mean to you?

“The rule of law prevents our society from descending into instability and chaos. In order to work, the rule of law requires the people to trust the legal process and those who administer it. As a result, the law must be applied equally and consistently to everyone through a fair and transparent process, and courts and judges must be independent, impartial, and accountable to those they serve.” 
– Hon. Janette Rodecap, associate circuit judge for the Jackson County Circuit Court in Kansas City

“The rule of law contributes to an effective form of government that ensures a stable, equitable society. To persevere, it must be applied fairly, consistently, and without prejudice to all citizens. It is defined by a framework that provides access to the courts, limits governmental intrusion, and guarantees accountability in government. Protecting the rule of law is synonymous with supporting, defending, and preserving the United States and the Missouri constitution, our best hope for achieving ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ as explained by Thomas Jefferson.” 
– Hon. Thomas C. Clark, Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District in St. Louis

“No fear of arbitrary interference, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 
– Dave Schulte, Kansas City

“Rule of law means that everyone, regardless of who they are or the circumstances they face, is protected by the same rights and held to the same standards of accountability and justice. It reflects a commitment to treat all people equally and fairly. Upholding the rule of law requires ensuring that every individual can rely on the system to safeguard their dignity, freedoms, and rights. As a capital defense attorney, it means providing those facing the most serious consequences with high-quality, zealous representation that promotes fairness, justice, and accuracy, which ensures my clients’ constitutional rights are protected at every stage of litigation.” 
– Delaney Catlettstout, associate trial counsel at Missouri State Public Defender Central Capital Division in Columbia

“I view the rule of law as the ultimate safeguard against tyranny. The rule of law stands for the proposition that no one, no matter how powerful, no matter how prestigious their position, is above the law. Human history shows that we frequently fall short of this ideal. But this extraordinary vision of government at its best is most certainly worthy of pursuit.” 
– Dr. Tony Simones, director of citizenship education at The Missouri Bar in Jefferson City

“As Karl Olivekrona and others of the Swedish School of Legal Theorists posited in the early 20th century, all governments exist because they possess the ability to apply superior force against all other people. Because of this ability, members of government make rules, i.e. laws, that everyone must follow. Those who disobey the rules subject themselves to potential applications of state force. All societies are ordered by this dynamic. But law making and law enforcement is always fluid and shaped by the consent of the people to subject themselves to the law. Therefore, states must always balance enforcement of the law with the willingness of the people to be bound by the law. The people can challenge state force if they withdraw their consent to being bound by offending laws. This, to me, is foundational to the rule of law.” 
– Michael Sewell, lawyer at Sewell Law, LC in St. Louis

“The rule of law is a fundamental maxim of civil society, establishing that every individual, from the highest official to the lowest citizen, is governed not by the arbitrary will of any single person, but by a set of established and impartial laws derived from the immutable principles of reason and the inherent laws of nature. These laws serve to secure universal justice, ensuring that similar causes are always treated with like equity, and provide predictable boundaries for civil conduct, such that all liberties and properties are protected under a uniform and consistent application of right.” 
– Kevin O. Callahan, lawyer at Callahan Law in Springfield

We were wondering … What keeps you going as a lawyer when you feel discouraged? Share your answer at MoBar.Wufoo.com/forms/closing-statements.