The lawyers and judges of the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, and members of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association are inviting local students to participate in the 2018 High School Essay Contest commemorating the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 14th Amendment.
The contest is open to students currently in grades 10-12 in counties in the Jacksonville Division of the Middle District of Florida (Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee and Union). The 14th Amendment was ratified 150 years ago and commanded, in part, that no person shall be denied “Equal Protection of the Laws.” Congress and the courts have applied this Equal Protection Clause to the right to equal education opportunities. Student essays are required to address how the phrase, “Equal Protection of the Laws,” impacts them as students. Student essays must be submitted no later than noon Eastern Standard Time on Oct. 15.
The first-place winner will be awarded $2,000; the second-place winner will be awarded $1,000; and the third-place winner will be awarded $500. Prizes to the winners of the essay contest are made possible by the lawyers and judges of the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, through the Middle District Bench Bar Fund.
Winners will be recognized at a ceremony in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse in Jacksonville in November, and at the Federal Bar Association’s Spirit of Giving Luncheon in December. In addition, the first-place winner will be given the opportunity to shadow a federal judge for a day.
For additional information about the essay contest and how to enter, visit www.flmd.uscourts.gov.
