FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Murray Newman, HCCLA President
(713) 864-2080 or murray@murraynewman.com
14th ANNUAL READING OF THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Houston, Texas – June 27, 2023 – In celebration of Independence Day, the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) is holding the 14th Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence on Friday, June 30 at 9:30 am outside of the Criminal Justice Center, 1201 Franklin, Houston, Texas.
HCCLA President Murray Newman said, “although the Declaration of Independence isn’t a perfect document, it was our country’s first valiant effort towards forming a more perfect Union and it is one that we recognize by reading in this tradition as we continue to strive to be closer to perfection in our criminal Justice system.”
The Reading of the Declaration of Independence by criminal defense lawyers is an annual tradition started by past president Robert Fickman in 2010. “Our reading is a message to those abusive judges who persistently ignore or trample on the Constitution. Our message is this: the defense bar will continue to stand United against them until they stop their abuse of the Constitution,” said Fickman.
Members of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) will also be holding readings in front of courtrooms across the state. From their website: “The Declaration of Independence is our nation’s most revered symbol of a nation’s stand against the illegal and immoral depredations of the crown against our citizens. It is only fitting that in Texas, which leads the country in the exoneration of those wrongfully accused and imprisoned, criminal defense attorneys serve at the forefront of the battle against the encroachment on our rights today. These readings are a reminder to all in the criminal justice system that abuses of power will be exposed and fought by members of the criminal defense bar.”
The Declaration of Independence is the founding document of the United States, and contains within its text the fundamental truths and unalienable rights that typify and embody the American way of life: …that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Please join us in honoring our nation’s most sacred document in the spirit of independence:
When: Friday, June 30, 2023
Where: Criminal Justice Center
1201 Franklin St, Houston, Texas
(outside in front of the courthouse)
Time: 9:30 AM
The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association is the largest local criminal defense bar in the United States with more than 600 active members.
For more information about the history of the readings and photos, visit:
Declaration of Independence Readings (hccla.org)
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