Constance Baker Motley National Student Writing Competition
About
Something which we think is impossible now is not impossible in another decade.”
—Constance Baker Motley
The American Constitution Society (ACS) and the University of Pennsylvania Law School ACS Chapter host an annual national student writing competition in honor of Constance Baker Motley’s legacy. As a civil rights attorney, first woman elected President of the Borough of Manhattan, and the first African-American woman appointed to the federal bench, Motley’s life-long commitment to equality for all aligns with ACS’s mission to ensure that law is a force to improve the lives of all people.
ACS welcomes all student papers furthering and promoting a progressive vision of the Constitution, law, and public policy. Entrants are encouraged to view this topic broadly, and we welcome submissions on a variety of substantive areas. Examples of possible topics include: census report, civil legal aid, civil liberties, constitutional convention, consumer rights, criminal justice, disability rights, freedom of speech, immigration, indigent defense, money in politics (including judicial elections), labor law, LGBTQ+ rights, privacy, protection of health, safety, and the environment, racial equality, religion, role of state attorneys general, second amendment and guns, separation of powers and federalism, women’s reproductive rights and reproductive freedom, voting and political process, and whistleblower protection.
Click here for more information about the Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law.
2024 Constance Baker Motley Writing Competition Details:
Applicant Qualifications: The competition is open to all law students who are current, dues-paying ACS National members.
Judging Criteria: Papers will be judged on their effective use, analysis, and expansion of legal scholarship. Possible paper topics include, but are not limited to, voting rights, civil liberties, freedom of speech, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, labor, money in politics, racial equality, religious freedom, Second Amendment, or the roles of state attorney generals. The selection committee will include federal judges and leading academics.
Scholarship Prize: The winning paper author will be awarded $3,000 and each of the 2 runners-up will receive $1,000. The winning authors of the top 3 papers will be featured during the 2024 ACS National Convention and on ACS’s website and social media platforms. The top paper also receives an offer of publication in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law.
Deadline to Apply: Monday, February 5, 2024 at 11:59 PM (in your local time zone).
Application Instructions and Materials: Please review the 2023 CBM Competition Guidelines for submission requirements and instructions.
2024 CBM Competition Guidelines
Past Competitions
For past competition winners, click here.