Essay Contest Open To All Students Grades 9 - 12 !

Connecticut Bar Foundation 26th Annual

Quintin Johnstone

Statewide High School

Essay Contest
Presented by the James W. Cooper Fellows 

2025-2026 Topic:

“After the Gavel Falls: Navigating Education Policy in the Wake of Mahmoud v. Taylor”

The contest is open to all Connecticut students under the age of 21 who are enrolled in grades 9-12, or their equivalent, at an accredited high school, vocational-technical school, or adult high school credit diploma program located within the State of Connecticut. The contest is also open to all Connecticut homeschooled students in grades equivalent to 9-12. 

• Grand Prize - $2,000

• Two Runner-Up Prizes - $1,000 each

Essays will be judged by federal and state court judges, law professors, and other attorneys. An awards ceremony will be held at the Connecticut Supreme Court in Spring 2026.

Deadline for submission: February 20, 2026

Entries must be submitted through the auspices of the Connecticut school the student attends, with the exception of homeschooled students. Each teacher shall select no more than three entries per class. Teachers of any subject may submit entries. There is no limit on the number of teachers who may submit entries from a single school. School counselors may submit no more than three entries per semester. There is no limit on the number of school counselors who may submit entries from a single school.

For more information, and to access contest materials and submit an entry, please visit our website by clicking the button below.

2025-20   Please contact us at ctbf@ctbarfdn.org with any questions.