Leaders of the New York legal community commemorated Law Day with a video Friday, breaking with the traditional in-person celebration at the New York State Court of Appeals due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a 30-minute video posted to Vimeo, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Bar Association President Hank Greenberg agreed with her that Law Day must be celebrated despite the unusual circumstances.

"Our message to the public, particularly this year, must be clear and unwavering: our justice system remains strong and resilient," DiFiore said.

She praised the court system employees who have continued to go to work during the pandemic, ensuring that virtual court parts can function and courthouses remain open for essential matters.

James and Greenberg also emphasized the importance of carrying on and maintaining access to justice amid the pandemic.

"At this critical moment, without the processes of our legal system ensuring that it functions properly and fairly, our democracy … would be lost," James said.

On the federal side, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit this year has moved all of its Law Day educational materials online for teachers to incorporate into virtual lesson plans  The resources, were compiled by a team of judges, lawyers, museum curators, librarians and civic educators and posted to the Second Circuit's Justice for All web page.

Because Law Day's national theme for 2020 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, DiFiore, James and Greenberg each addressed New York's role in the suffrage movement, starting with the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, and in movements for civil rights since.

James and Greenberg discussed the importance of ensuring Americans' right to vote despite ongoing barriers, including the logistical challenges of the pandemic.

Greenberg went all the way back to the Civil War to demonstrate the necessity of elections during national crises, saying that President Abraham Lincoln ensured the election of 1864 proceeded even though he was worried he would lose the presidency.

"Voters must not have to choose between disease and democracy," he said, encouraging lawmakers to find a way for everyone to vote safely in November.

Tom McParland contributed to this report.