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For attorney Darrian Botts, last Friday was a special occasion.

“I was sworn into the Clark County Bar Association. It is an honor to be able to serve this community, and I look forward to doing it,” she said.

Botts is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law and practices at Winchester-based firm White, McCann and Stewart.

The day took on a greater significance because it was the day of the Clark County Circuit Court’s observation of Law Day.

Law Day has been celebrated in the United States on May 1 since President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed it to be such in 1958. The day is used to reflect the role of the law in America’s foundation and its role in society as a whole.

For Botts, practicing law equals service.

“From the minute that you raise that right hand, there is an awesome responsibility, I feel, to serve the community and Clark County. Not just Clark County but the other surrounding counties as well to the best of our ability,” Botts said.

Retired Judge Julia Adams reflected on how important the day is to the profession as a whole.

“Law Day is important to the life in every courthouse, as far as I am concerned in the United States of America,” Adams said. “When we look at this courtroom where we have the privilege to work, we need to be mindful that there are courtrooms like this all throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky and all throughout the nation.”

Judge Adams said that she is thankful for those in the legal profession who challenge authority, restrain the government and speak for families in crisis.

“That’s what we do,” she said. “We benefit when we are committed to the rule of law.”

Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Laurance VanMeter spoke about the area’s legal history and the virtues of the judicial system.

“One of the strengths of our judicial system, especially the appellate court system, is that we come from different parts of the state,” VanMeter said. “We bring different perspectives to our office.”

Judge Cole Adams Maier spoke about the importance of fraternity in the legal profession especially coming out of the pandemic.

“I think we see how important it is to see one another and to be equally adversarial when necessary and non-adversarial when necessary,” Maier said. “It is always a pleasure for me as we return to more in-person proceedings to see attorneys in our courtrooms.”