Chief Justice Apichart Thepnu
(center) leads judges, lawyers and other officials to pay respects to the
Father of Thai Law, Prince Rapee Pattanasak on Rapee Day.
Warunya Thongrod
Chief Justice Apichart Thepnu saluted the father of the Thai justice
system in this year’s Rapee Day ceremony in Pattaya.
At the Aug. 7 ceremony at Pattaya Provincial Court, Judge Apichart lit
candles and incense in honor of the three gems. 9 Buddhist monks from
Chaimongkol Temple chanted before the Chief Justice presented a speech on
Rapee and the Thai version of a justice system.
In addition, the day also featured exhibits on Thai law and royal missions;
a mock trial and a quiz on laws attended by students, and a sports
competition to forge bonds between Pattaya courthouse workers and the
judges.
Rapee Day is named after the father of the Thai courts,
Prince Rapee Pattanasak. The 14th son of King Chulalongkorn, he founded the
country’s first law school and promoted the systemization of land-title
deeds and ownership. The holiday commemorates the day he died.
Rapee was born Oct. 21, 1874 and studied law at Christchurch College at
Oxford University. Upon returning to Thailand he became minister of justice
at the age of 22, a position he held for 14 years. After founding the law
school in 1897 he drew up the first syllabus and taught the students
himself.
In 1911, King Rama VI appointed Rapee agriculture minister. In addition to
standardizing land ownership, he created the Royal Irrigation Department.
The prince fell ill in 1920 and resigned to move to Paris. He died Aug. 7
the same year. His statue was constructed in front of the Ministry of
Justice and each year law practitioners and the general public who now live
under the law he once wrote pay tribute to him.
