James A. Everard is the 2024 recipient of the Liberty Bell Award, which will be presented at the annual Law Day celebration on Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m. at the Chenango County Courthouse. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — Chenango County’s 2024 Annual Law Day celebration will take place on Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m. at the Chenango County Courthouse in downtown Norwich. The event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be provided following the celebration.

Presiding over the annual celebration will be the Hon. Elizabeth A. Garry, the Hon. Joseph A. McBride and the Hon. Frank B. Revoir, Jr. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Voices of Democracy."

This annual event, sponsored by the Chenango County Bar Association, will include the presentation of the 2024 Mock Trial Winning Team Award and the presentation of the 2024 Liberty Bell award.

This year, the Norwich High School Mock Trial Team won the county-wide competition. Representatives from the Norwich Central School District and the twelve participating students will be in attendance to accept the award.

Historically, the biggest draw for the annual event is the presentation of the Liberty Bell award. The Chenango County Bar Association presents this award each year to a non-attorney, who through life example has promoted respect for the law and the Constitution.

The Liberty Bell Award was established more than 40 years ago to acknowledge outstanding service performed by a non-lawyer citizen who has given time and energy to strengthen the effectiveness of the American system of freedom under law, in keeping with the spirit of our Constitution. It is awarded to someone who has promoted better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged greater respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, or contributed to good government in the community.

This year’s Liberty Bell award recipient is James A. Everard. In 2020, Mr. Everard retired from an accumulated 40-plus year career in substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation, having served in both the public and private sectors.

For the last 16 years of his career (2004 - 2020), Mr. Everard served as Chenango County’s full-time Drug Treatment Court Coordinator. As the Treatment Court Coordinator, Mr. Everard was part of a multi-disciplinary team, under the supervision of the Chenango County Court, tasked with the responsibility of providing substance abuse intervention and rehabilitation services to those members of the community involved primarily in the criminal justice and family court systems.

Under the tenured guidance and leadership of Mr. Everard, several hundred members of the community have successfully graduated from the program and currently lead healthy, law-abiding lives.

His service began in 1978 as a part-time instructor with the NYS Drinking Driver Rehabilitation Program - a position he held for 18 years. Commencing in 1981, Mr. Everard also served as a part-time Coordinator for Chenango County’s STOPDWI Program - a position he held for 23 years. Beginning in 1984, Mr. Everard commenced service as a NYS Credentialed Substance Abuse Counselor for UHS

New Horizons Treatment Center in Binghamton, New York - a position he held for

20 years.

While working with UHS, Mr. Everard was recognized in 1997 as the “Broome County Addiction Professional of the Year." In 2004, Mr. Everard retired from New Horizons and became Chenango County ‘s Drug Treatment Court Coordinator.

Mr. Everard’s community volunteerism currently includes serving as a Volunteer Coordinator and Driver for Disabled American Veterans; a Member of the Norwich Town Board; Chairman of the Chenango County Youth Board; Board of Directors of FOR-DO/Turning Point; the Vestry of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church; and a Volunteer Guide at the Northeastern Classic Car Museum.

-Information provided by the Chenango County Bar Association