In 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed the first Law Day, May 1, as "a day of national dedication to the principle of government under law." Since then, the American Bar Association has established an annual theme for Law Day and encouraged bar associations and other organizations across the nation to develop programs that educate people about the importance of the rule of law.

The theme for Law Day 2010 was "Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions and Emerging Challenges." The theme focused on the legal profession at a transformative stage in its history. Lawyers live and work in a borderless world. Technologies used by lawyers and their clients, and the cross-nature of today's business, fuel globalization and challenge our place-based system of ethics and professional regulation. This year's Law Day theme provided an opportunity to reflect on transformations in the legal profession and the greater society in which lawyers practice.

Each year the HBA Law Week Committee plans numerous educational and public service events that celebrate Law Day and its theme. The HBA Law Week Committee was co-chaired by Justice Kem Frost of the 14th Court of Appeals and Warren W. Harris of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP. Committee members were Lauren Farr Barker, Josh Nathaniel Bowlin, Gregory V. Brown, J. Shannon Cavers, James Patrick Cohoon, Kristen A. Davenport, Mark Edward Harrington, Melissa L. Hotze, Billy Bruce Johnson, Jr., Jeffrey L. Oldham, Brendetta A. Scott, Ruth Ellen Shapiro, Anastassios Triantaphyllis and Caitlin M. Tucker.

First Place: Houston Bar Association Law Day Essay Contest

Law in the 21st Century:
New Media, New Challenges for Teens

By William Beresford, Cypress Lakes High School

"Ding!" Another new text message emerges on Drew's phone like sharp fangs gnawing out of a venomous snake's gums; a sin seemingly harmless, but growing to become poisonous and life altering. It takes awhile to load because it is not an everyday text message, but a picture message. And not just any regular picture message either. Drew has been harassing girls to send him pictures of themselves in inappropriate ways and antagonizing them to talk sexually to him. "It can't hurt anything," Drew things to himself. "It's just a text message." In fact, Drew is very wrong. Boys and girls all over the world are getting fined for a new issue known as "sexting."

Excitement and hormones run through the teenage Drew's body like a drug running through an addict's veins as the picture loads on the little, bright screen.

"Promise me u will delete it…" Another text message appears on Drew's phone from the harassed, helpless girl.

"Of course i will!! u dont trust me?" Drew's lies consume and poison the young girl's mind as she trusts him with her body. The power of lust and "teenage-boy-ism" overwhelm Drew while he sits in his bedroom digitally, sexually harassing the girl. This is the beginning of a long night of "fun" for Drew, but will eventually lead to a life-changing mistake.

Drew wakes up the next morning feeling like a million dollars from his "successful" night. With a grin the size of Texas on his face, he drives to school with his esteem at its highest. He did not delete any of the things the girl had sent him since he wanted to save them and show them to his friends. The school slowly comes into view as Drew races to his friends. The excitement in his heart is still pumping from the pictures and messages on his phone as he walks past familiar girls in the hallway at school. The girls give him a look of disgust as he winks and whistles at them as he walks to the group of guys at the end of the walkway.

"How many did you get last night Drew?! Drew's friend Blake stands almost impatiently, bouncing on his toes and waving him over to the group of guys. "Cause I got four from Christine." Blake's evil smile grows across his face like a deadly cancer.

As Drew walks over to the guys, he passes a little pink sign on the wall with a cell phone on it. The paper says "NO ELECTRONICS ALLOWED. IF SEEN, IT WILL BE CONFISCATED. IF CONFISCATED, THE AUTHORITY WHO HAS TAKEN THE PHONE HAS THE RIGHT TO GO THROUGH THE PHONE SINCE NOW IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THEIR POSSESSION. AVOID THE RISK AND PUT IT AWAY."

Drew laughs at the sign and continues on his march to his friends. "I got a couple from Jessica," Drew whispers to the guys. A loud roar of cheers thunders from the gang of boys. Drew pulls out his phone to show his friends the pictures Jessica sent him the night before. As soon as he flips his phone open, a large hand grabs the phone with a voice saying, "I'll take that." Mr. Woods was standing there with Drew's phone in his hand. Drew's heart stops in its tracks as he remembered he didn't delete any of his collection he collected last night. "Mr. Drew! Why this should be entertaining to see what you've got in here!" shouts Mr. Woods as he taps the little pink sign that Drew laughed at earlier. Sweat breaks on Drew's face as his hair turns into a wet mop. Regret and guilt swell throughout Drew's head like a bee sting. All Drew can do now is wait…

"Andrew Brian, please report to Mr. Woods' office immediately." The voice of the AP Mrs. Parkinson booms into Drew's fourth period algebra class. Drew's heart races as he gets out of his chair and makes his way to Mr. Woods' office. Drew looks through the window to see his mom and dad standing there with terror across their faces.

The next day, a letter comes from the courthouse telling Drew that he will be spending eight weeks in juvenile detention and he will be paying a very high fine. Drew's full academic and baseball scholarships have been turned away also. These are consequences that Drew never knew he would come close to facing, but reality finally has caught up with him. Sexting, a seemingly innocent flirtation tool, now comes out to face the truth.