14
April 2007: Rule of Law Conference Commemoration
and Plaque Unveiling, Jamestown Island
On
Saturday, April 14, Susan Godman Rager, Governor of the
Chesapeake Bay Company, was one of approximately 250
University of Richmond Law School alumni and guests who
traveled from the Hotel Jefferson in Richmond to Jamestown
Island for the unveiling of a plaque presented by the
English Inns of Court to commemorate the 400th Anniversary
of the founding of the Colony at Jamestown in 1607. The
plaque was presented by the Rt. Hon. Lord Phillips of Worth
Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. There
were a number of distinguished British guests who witnessed
the ceremony, including the Rt. Hon. Lady Justice Arden,
D.B.E., Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the Rt. Hon.
Lord Mance, Law Lord, Appellate Committee of House of Lords,
United Kingdom, the Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Rix, Court of
Appeal of England and Wales. Distinguished American
participants in the ceremony were the Chief Justice of the
United States, John G. Roberts, Jr., Justice Sandra Day
O'Connor (Ret.), United States Supreme Court, Justice Donald
W. Lemons, Supreme Court of Virginia, and Chief Judge
Deanell Tacha, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth
Circuit.
The group traveled by motorcade from Richmond to Jamestown
Island, arriving in time for the 1:45 p.m. ceremony.
Dignitaries were escorted to the tent on the lawn near the
Archaerium by the Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation Drum and
Fife Corps.

Dignitaries
Escorted to Tent for Ceremony
Photograph c2007 S. G. Rager
Introductions were made by Justice Lemons, and at 1:50 p.m.
the plaque was unveiled and presented with remarks by Chief
Justice Roberts, Lord Phillips, and Justice O'Connor.
Following the unveiling, the group attending enjoyed a
reception and touring the Archaerium. Tours of the current
archaeological dig near the Memorial Church were led by Dr.
William Kelso, whose pioneering efforts over the years have
been responsible for most of the knowledge of the early
Jamestown community.

Dr. Kelso
points out features of current "dig"
Photograph c2007 S G Rager
The Rule of Law Conference, which took place April 11-14,
was sponsored by the University of Richmond Law School, as
part of a national effort to commemorate the founding of the
first permanent English settlement in Jamestown 400 years
ago. The conference was part of a series titled "Foundations
and Future of Democracy." Former Presidents George H. W.
Bush and William J. Clinton and former Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher are the Honorary Chairs of the conference
series. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (Ret). is the Honorary
Chair of the America's 400th Anniversary commemoration.

Susan Godman
Rager after April 14 Ceremony

Plaque
Presented by English Inns of Court April 14 at Jamestown
Island Photograph c2007 S G Rager
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