Front, Assignment Judge Valerie Armstrong speaks May 1 in new Law Library in county courthouse. Left, Robert St. John, Vicinage 1 law librarian gives instruction on Lexis-Nexis computer terminal. Photos by Al Campbell

COURT HOUSE — A Law Day celebration at Cape May County Courthouse was held May 1 in the newly renovated and relocated Law Library.

That library, off the rear lobby of the building, is an incorporation of old and new: old law books and new computers that link the public and attorneys to all statutes and court records.

Law Day is a national day set aside to marks the theme of this year's celebration "Rule of Law," which was defined as a "wonderful relationship between the Bar Association, government and the public," by Howard Berchtold, trial court administrator.

Cape May-Atlantic Vicinage 1 Assignment Judge Valerie Armstrong addressed the gathering, which included members of the public, Cape May County Bar Association members and other court officials.

She lauded the public access to the library’s law book collection, but more importantly, the new computer station dedicated civil and criminal case records and Lexis/Nexis that allows anyone to view that portal to myriad state and other laws.

Berchtold praised the county for its help in relocating the library from a larger area that can now be used to alleviate workspace overcrowding at the courthouse.

“I believe we are providing enhanced service to the public at reduced cost,” Berchtold said.

In the past, he said, the public had access, but was confronted with stacks of CDs, which were expensive and difficult to find, for the average citizen.

“This (Lexis/Nexis) computer gives full access to the public, and eliminates those CDs,” he added.

After brief period of comments, Robert St. John, vicinage law librarian gave demonstrations of the computers.

See next Wednesday’s Herald print edition for complete story.