The first day of May is Law Day, a day in which we recognize the importance of the rule of law in the founding of America and its significance in our society.
Law Day was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 to educate the public about the legal system and celebrate American liberties. It was later codified by Public Law 87-20 on April 7, 1961.
The President famously said, “If civilization is to survive, it must choose the rule of law.”
On this day, there are seminars and lectures, luncheon speakers, and commentaries in the media. But this is not just about lawyers and judges talking about the law.
Law Day is also a day for the law enforcement community to talk about their role in upholding the rule of law.
Mae Foley was well aware of the role of law in maintaining the public’s trust in honest government. She began her career in social work at the beginning of the twentieth century in New York City.
The law protected citizens and immigrants alike from illegal labor practices, price gouging in rent, the scams of self-proclaimed psychics, the ruses of quack doctors, and worse.
Mae knew the importance of equal protection under the law, and once Mae and her husband John had two young girls, she became even more concerned with protecting the innocent, the at-risk, and the vulnerable.
During World War I, she volunteered for the Women’s Police Reserve, then recruited thousands to their ranks.
At first, she was concerned with the fate of runaway girls and their seeming inability to resist the draw of New York’s shipyards and the throngs of young sailors training there.
But as her confidence and skills grew, she and her colleagues also focused on how to support the patrolmen in the department who were overwhelmed by the rise in petty crime.
They initially assumed much of the New York Police Department’s administrative burden, preparing reports and filing documents.
They also patrolled the streets; much like a neighborhood watch, these women kept an eye out for their neighbors and made their presence known.
They also searched out German infiltrators, spotted criminals in the act, and supported their male colleagues in any way they could.
Many returned to their families following the war, but Mae Foley, applied to become a policewoman; her goal was to continue her career of service. She became a sworn officer in 1923.
The theme for this year’s Law Day is “The Cornerstone of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.”
At first, she was concerned with the fate of runaway girls and their seeming inability to resist the draw of New York’s shipyards and the throngs of young sailors training there.
But as her confidence and skills grew, she and her colleagues also focused on how to support the patrolmen in the department who were overwhelmed by the rise in petty crime.
They initially assumed much of the New York Police Department’s administrative burden, preparing reports and filing documents.
They also patrolled the streets; much like a neighborhood watch, these women kept an eye out for their neighbors and made their presence known.
They also searched out German infiltrators, spotted criminals in the act, and supported their male colleagues in any way they could.
Many returned to their families following the war, but Mae Foley, applied to become a policewoman; her goal was to continue her career of service. She became a sworn officer in 1923.
The theme for this year’s Law Day is “The Cornerstone of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.”
Many polls and surveys over the past several years have shown a significant decline in trust in democratic institutions and norms.
Law Day 2023 focuses on the importance of rebuilding trust while emphasizing civility and respect in public discourse, and encouraging the development of a new commitment to working together for shared goals—the public good.
It isn’t just about the courts. Democratic institutions generally include the whole of government at all levels, plus non-government institutions, business, and the media. Together, they make democracy function.
Mae Foley was long retired by the time Law Day was established. She retired in 1946, just after the end of World War II, drawing to a close 23 years as a policewoman.
The American Bar Association first proposed Law Day as a federal holiday in 1957. The focus on the American Legal System was their stated reason, but the proposal was also intended to defer attention from the long-standing events of May Day—a celebration devoted to worker’s rights, an event often identified with communism.
Mae had been to Russia years earlier, and she was especially concerned that Americans learn more about the potential threat Russia presented.
Mae Foley thought May Day a grand idea.
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