UPDATE: The deadline for entries in the contest has been extended to accommodate spring break in many school districts. Essays and videos are now due by noon (12 p.m.) PDT on Monday, April 24, 2017.
Civics education begins with understanding the Constitution, which defines our individual rights and the power of the state. To that end, please consider participating in a civics essay contest.
The theme is “Not to be Forgotten: Legal Lessons of the Japanese Internment.” Through an essay and/or short video, students are asked to “consider and describe the relevance of the Japanese internment today as our nation combats terrorism.”
This contest is open to 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders in public, private, parochial and charter high schools, and to home-schooled students of equivalent grade level status.
The top three entries in the Oregon contest for both the essay and video competition will be recognized by the U.S. District Court of Oregon judges as well as awarded cash prizes. Those six entries will then advance to the Ninth Circuit contest and the top three finishers for both the essay and video competitions will be recognized at the Ninth Circuit Conference in San Francisco, California as well as receive cash prizes for first, second and third places.
Further contest rules, entry instructions and more instructions are available here.
The U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon are hosting a local contest to determine the top three state finalists in both the essay and video contests who will go on to compete for cash prizes in the circuit contest. To be eligible to compete in the Oregon contest, students must reside in the State of Oregon. In addition to advancement to the circuit contest, local district winners will receive cash prizes and be invited to the award presentation at the FBA Annual Dinner on May 25, 2017. For more information about the local contest, please contact: the Hon. Judge Russo at Jolie_Russo@ord.uscourts.gov.