Constance Baker Motley National Student Writing Competition

Applications are open for American Constitution Society’s National Student Writing Competition that honors Constance Baker Motley, a civil rights leader, elected official, and the first African-American woman appointed to the federal bench. This competition is open to all current law students who are dues-paying ACS members, and all student papers that further a progressive vision of the Constitution, law, and public policy are welcome. Entrants are encouraged to interpret this topic broadly, and we encourage submissions on a variety of substantive areas including, but not limited to, criminal justice, disability rights, freedom of speech, immigration, money in politics (including judicial elections), LGBTQ+ rights, privacy, racial equality, religion, role of state attorneys general, separation of powers and federalism, and whistleblower protection.

Submissions will be judged by a prestigious selection committee including federal judges and leading academics. The author of the top submission will receive $3,000 and an offer of publication in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law, and the authors of the two runner-up submissions will each receive $1,000.

Find more competition details and application information here. Deadline to Apply: February 9, 2020 at 11:59 PM.