BY: Jennifer A. Nieuwkerk
jnieuwkerk@markaserenilaw.com
This Fourth of July, we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation. What an exciting time it is for our country!
For those who are interested in the legal history of the United States, it’s a good time to reflect on one of the biggest changes the Declaration of Independence brought: a break from the British legal system.
The Founders adopted the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago on the Fourth of July. They later created an independent judiciary under the United States Constitution, which helped establish liberty and fairness to the newly formed United States.
Royal judges could be heavily influenced by a monarch, whereas today’s independent judiciary requires judges to follow the law. The British legal system also had legal traditions, courts, and precedent. However, an independent judiciary promotes stronger rule of law.
It’s safe to say the United States court system is imperfect in practice, with bias sometimes interfering in court rulings, but we have come a long way.
Before 1776, judges who ruled against a monarch’s interests could be demoted or fired. The Founders changed this so that judges would be protected with long or lifetime terms. This gave them the freedom to interpret the law using their legal reasoning.
As we approach this Fourth of July weekend’s cookouts and fireworks, let’s reflect on the Founders’ dedication to creating a fairer legal system and consider how their ideals benefit us.
Today, the legal system protects our rights in matters like employment law; defamation, libel and slander; and many more areas. Navigating the legal system often requires knowledgeable legal counsel to ensure those rights are fully protected.
The Law Firm of Mark A. Sereni, PLLC
The Law Firm of Mark A. Sereni, PLLC is a full-service law firm in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We strive to help people, businesses and institutions throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania solve legal problems – and even prevent legal problems before they occur. To learn more about the full range of our specific practice areas, please visit www.markaserenilaw.com or contact Mark A. Sereni, Esquire at 610-565-5700 or at msereni@markaserenilaw.com.
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