THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 80 | FEBRUARY 2026 The Back Page Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday and the Rule of Law By Judge Thad Balkman HOW DO YOU PLAN TO celebrate America’s 250th birthday this year? Join members of Oklahoma’s judiciary and me in learning about and promoting our country’s most enduring, valuable qualities – the rule of law and the protections it provides to our freedoms and liberties. Fireworks and barbecues will always be time-honored Independence Day traditions, but this year’s Fourth of July is not just another celebration, and 2026 isn’t an ordinary year. This year, let’s invest in ourselves and in future generations by learning and discussing what makes the United States of America the greatest nation on Earth. Early last year, President Trump issued an executive order “to provide a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026, ... [and] to take other actions to honor the history of our great Nation.” What actions honor America’s history more than promoting the rule of law and other founding principles contained in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution? This is an excellent opportunity to commit to upholding these principles and passing them down to the next generations in the hopes that they will become effective citizens and leaders. Everyone can celebrate America’s semiquincentennial in their homes and communities. Online databases and other resources place the tools at our fingertips to learn about the freedoms expressed in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the Constitution. To help in this effort, judges across the state are committed to speaking about the rule of law and other founding freedoms in local schools, civic clubs and other forums as invited. As judges, we have taken a solemn oath to uphold the rule of law by impartially interpreting and applying laws, ensuring due process, safeguarding constitutional rights (especially for minorities), resolving disputes based on evidence and acting as a check on other government branches – all while remaining independent from political pressure and ensuring justice is predictable and equal for everyone. We stand on the front lines of the battle to preserve these sacred liberties that make our nation so special. We hope to share our knowledge and experience with the community throughout 2026, increasing awareness of and respect for the rule of law and our essential freedoms. We welcome invitations to speak to social studies, civics and government classes in high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. We seek opportunities to speak at service clubs, business organizations and other gatherings. We hope these occasions will be frequent and fruitful so that Oklahoma residents, citizens and noncitizens alike will have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the United States of America and the freedoms and liberties that have made it special for the past 250 years. You can contact your district court judges on www.oscn.net. Join us in celebrating America’s 250th birthday in this unique and rewarding manner. Judge Balkman is the presiding judge for Oklahoma’s 21st Judicial District. He can be reached at thad.balkman@oscn.net.
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