HARRISBURG (Sept. 17, 2003) � The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) today kicked off Pennsylvania�s fifth annual statewide �I Signed the Constitution� celebration with a program in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court chambers, Harrisburg. Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Correale Stevens and PBA President Thomas Golden talked with students from the Line Mountain Elementary School, Northumberland County, about the U.S. Constitution.

�The theme for this year�s celebration is �A Constitution for Everyone�Everyday,� in honor of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in May 2004,� said PBA President Golden. �This anniversary gives us a special opportunity to emphasize freedom, equality and justice for all, which are the fundamental principles upon which our country was founded. This constitutional milestone also can serve to inspire lawyers, teachers and students to come together to discuss the complex issues facing today�s society such as diversity, equal rights and personal privacy.�

This year�s Constitution signing is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association/Foundation in conjunction with the National Constitution Center. The celebration, which officially began with today�s program, will continue through December 12 � the beginning of �Bill of Rights Week.� Schools across the commonwealth will hold mock Constitution signing events throughout the fall.

Pennsylvania�s �I Signed the Constitution� program is part of the larger national celebration of the U.S. Constitution. Since 1991, millions of Americans have participated in mock Constitution signings at national parks, libraries, schools and malls across the country. The purpose of the program is to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution, its history and its relevance.

In the coming months, schools throughout the commonwealth will host local mock Constitution signing programs featuring local judges, lawyers and legislators. The Constitution scrolls signed by the students will be sent to the new National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for display.