On Friday, May 16, the Waterbury Bar Association Young Lawyers Section presented the 2025 Law Day ceremony, resuming a tradition that has been on hiatus since 2018.
Law Day is an annual commemoration, sponsored by the American Bar Association, to celebrate the rule of law and cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal system.
The day was a great success. The festivities kicked off with an enthusiastic rendition of the Pledge of Allegiance, led by the class of fourth-grade students from Maloney Magnet School who were in attendance. The day heard rousing comments from Waterbury Mayor, Paul K. Pernerewski Jr.; Waterbury Judicial District Administrative Judge, Hon. John L. Cordani; Waterbury Bar Association President, Bryan McEntee; and Event Organizer, Attorney Jeff Beck. The speeches were capped off with a Keynote Address from Hon. Judge Sara Nadim, of the Waterbury Juvenile Court. All presentations focused on this year’s theme: “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One.”
The Waterbury Bar Association Presented three awards: (1) The Liberty Bell Award, which was established more than 30 years ago to acknowledge outstanding community service. This award is presented to a local individual or individuals who have stimulated a sense of civic responsibility and who have shown a willingness to serve their community; (2) The Courthouse Personnel Award, which is presented to a staff member of the Judicial District of Waterbury who has demonstrated service above and beyond his/her duty; and (3) the Waterbury Young Lawyer’s Award, which is presented to a local attorney who perpetuates a positive image of the legal profession.
This year’s award recipients were:
Waterbury Young Lawyer’s Award – Attorney Randolph E. “Rick” Richardson II, recipient, presented by Attorney Gregory P. Klein
Courthouse Personnel Award – Zachary Petrarca, recipient, presented by Attorney Emily Claffey
Liberty Bell Award – Dr. Jessica Ocasio and Matt Ocasio, recipients, presented by Attorney Dan Petroskey
Pictured from left to right: (1) Waterbury Administrative Judge, John Cordani; (2) Waterbury Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section Chief, Jeff Beck; (3) Waterbury Bar Association President, Bryan McEntee; (4) Waterbury Mayor, Paul Pernerewski.