On September 17, 1787, the US Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitution, the highest law in the United States, is the framework for our government, outlining the powers and duties of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. As a “living” document, it is at the center of the major debates and policies of our time.
To celebrate the 229th anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution, Somerset Community College will be hosting two events that showcase prominent representatives of the executive and judicial branches of Kentucky government.
Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky's 76th Secretary of State and youngest female Secretary of State in the nation, is a native of Maysville, Kentucky. She received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where she served as a trustee to the Board of Directors. Secretary Grimes obtained her law degree, graduating with honors, from American University, Washington College of Law, in Washington, D.C.
One of the key roles of Secretary of State in Kentucky is to oversee all elections, including presidential elections.
“It is especially fortuitous to have Kentucky’s Chief Election Officer present at SCC during a presidential election year,” said SCC Assistant Professor of Political Science James Taylor, who is the chair of the Constitution Day committee at SCC.
Secretary Grimes will be the guest speaker for the SCC Constitution Day event on Wednesday, September 14, 2016, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the SCC Harold Rogers Student Commons, Citizens National Bank Community Room, 808 Monticello Street, Somerset.
Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court John D. Minton, Jr.
Chief Justice John D. Minton, Jr. of Bowling Green was elected to the Supreme Court of Kentucky in 2006 and re-elected to another eight-year term in 2014. His fellow justices elected him to four-year terms as chief justice in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Chief Justice Minton was in private practice for fifteen years before serving as a circuit judge from 1992 to 2003 and a Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge from 2003 to 2006. He holds degrees from Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky College of Law.
The Supreme Court of Kentucky is the court of last resort and the final interpreter of state law, as well as an arbiter of cases that may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court concerning issues that relate to the U.S. Constitution.
“In his capacity as Chief Justice,” said Taylor, “Minton can provide a unique insight into our state and federal constitutions.”
Chief Justice Minton will be the guest speaker for the second SCC Constitution Day event on Monday, September 19, 2016, from 1 to 2 p.m. in the SCC Meece Auditorium, Meece Hall, 808 Monticello Street, Somerset.
These two events will offer the unique opportunity to hear different perspectives on our Constitution, executive and judicial.
Moderator for both events will be SCC Assistant Professor of Political Science James Taylor.
The events are free and open to the public.
For more information, contact James Taylor at james.taylor@kctcs.edu or ext. 16820.