DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ENTRIES IS MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2023
Essays must be submitted as a Word or PDF file attachment at https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/civicscontest.
Video entry must be uploaded at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/civicscontest.
As you know, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is currently accepting entries in their annual civics contest. The competition is open to high school students in states and territories within the Ninth Circuit’s jurisdiction. The deadline to submit entries is rapidly approaching. Please encourage your students to participate and provide them the information they need to participate. There is still time for them to submit an essay or video.
Before competing in the Ninth Circuit’s civics contest, the United States District Court for the District of Nevada sponsors its own local civics contest to select winners. Cash prizes are awarded to the local winners: $1,500 for first place, $850 for second place and $500 for third place in both the essay and video contests. The district’s top winners then advance as finalists to compete in the 2023 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest. Students who move on to the circuit-wide civics contest have a second opportunity to receive cash prizes: $3,000 for first place, $1,700 for second place and $1,000 for third place. First-place winners at the circuit level are invited to attend the 2023 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, where they will have an opportunity to meet Supreme Court justices, judges, members of the bar and academia.
The contest opened on January 4, 2023. The deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday, March 13, 2023. Attached are the contest rules and a flyer that includes information about the local contest. Email me at Sharon_Hardin@nvd.uscourts.gov for questions about the local contest.
For questions about the 2023 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest, email Katherine Rodriguez, communications administrator, at civicscontest@ce9.uscourts.gov. For educational resources, activities and outreach, contact Kari Kelso, Ph.D., public education and community outreach administrator, at kkelso@ce9.uscourts.gov.
Not only do your students stand to benefit from winning money for college, but you also can consider participating in the contest as an extra credit assignment! It’s a win-win all the way around! Please encourage your students to participate in the contest.