The Rule of Law Event

As this great nation enters its 250^th anniversary, let us hold fast to the core values that have endured and preserved our precious union. For over two centuries, we, as a nation, have protected and preserved freedom by adherence to a simple but powerful principle: the Rule of Law, a guiding principle that, by definition, is neither political nor partisan. For as our Founders recognized, “men are not angels,” and to guard against the evil of self-interest, all rights must be secured and guaranteed by one overarching right: a disciplined adherence to a set of laws fairly and evenhandedly administered to all regardless of station in life.

For more than 50 years, this enduring principle has formed the cornerstone of the Virginia Law Foundation’s philanthropic efforts. The Foundation has spent untold hours and invested millions of dollars fostering a respect for and promoting a better understanding of this invaluable guarantee of freedom throughout Virginia. Our vision succinctly underscores the foundational importance of this guarantee as we tirelessly seek: A Virginia legal system that is accessible, affordable, and fair for everyone; where the law is applied impartially by an independent judiciary; and where legal education equips attorneys to be skilled practitioners and ethical advocates for their clients and teaches the public about the American legal system.

Today, as it has for every day of the last 52 years, the Virginia Law Foundation celebrates and reaffirms its support for the Rule of Law. For it is only through a conscious adherence to and support for this vision of the Rule of Law that Virginia will gain the true freedoms promised by the genius of this guiding principle.