An essay and video contest open to high school students in the western United States and Pacific Islands.
Entries accepted beginning February 15, 2020. Deadline for entries is March 25, 2020.
CASH PRIZES for Winners of the Essay and Video Competitions:
1st place: $2,000* 2nd place: $1,000 3rd place: $500
*Plus! Travel and accommodations to attend the 2020 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in Portland, Oregon
For contest rules, entry instructions, and more information click here or go to:
https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/civicscontest/
Civics education begins with understanding the Constitution, which defines our individual rights and the power of the state. To that end, please join us by participating in a civics essay and video contest. The theme for the 2020 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest is "The Right to Vote: Milestone Anniversaries."
Students should consider whether formal or informal barriers to voting remain today and what changes, if any, they would make to Americans' voting rights. Individual students can express their thoughts and ideas in an essay of between 500 and 1,000 words. Individuals and teams of up to three students can produce a 3-5 minute video on the theme. A student may submit both an essay and video. A student may submit only one essay and be involved in the production of only one video.
The essay or video should address the principles of equality and history of the 15th and 19th Amendments including some of the U.S. Supreme Court cases and state actions that have shaped modern voting rights.
The 2020 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest is open to high school students in nine western states and two Pacific island jurisdictions. Students from public, private, parochial and charter schools and home-schooled students of equivalent grade status may enter. Children of federal judges, chambers staff, and employees of federal court offices are not eligible to participate.
The United States District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon will conduct a local contest to select finalists for the circuit-wide competition. To enter the local contest, students must reside in the State of Oregon. In addition to advancement to the circuit contest, local winners will receive cash prizes and be invited to an award presentation.
For more information about the local contest, please contact Judge Russo (503) 326-8370 / Jolie_Russo@ord.uscourts.gov or Judge Renn (541) 431-4050 / Tom_Renn@orb.uscourts.gov
