CLAY COUNTY – The lawyers and judges of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, and the members of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association are pleased to announce the launch of the 2021 high school essay contest commemorating the 230th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights.

The contest is open to students currently in grades 10 through 12 in the Jacksonville Division of the Middle District of Florida, which includes Clay, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee and Union counties. The personal freedoms we cherish as citizens of the United States are set forth in, and protected by, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Known as the Bill of Rights, these amendments have shaped the nation’s democracy for 230 years.

The 2021 Essay Contest prompt asks students to select the amendment most important to students attending public schools and explain how the decisions of the United States Supreme Court have shaped that amendment’s meaning.

Student Essays must be submitted via the Middle District website at www.flmd.uscourts.gov under the “Court in the Community” section, no later than noon on Sept. 24. For the past three years essays have been submitted by students residing in nine of the 12 counties of the Jacksonville Division and more than $17,000 in cash prizes have been awarded to students and teachers. This year an additional cash prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the school with the most qualifying essay submissions.

The cash prizes are made possible by the lawyers and judges of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida Bench Bar Fund. The prizes are:

First place – $2,000

Second place – $1,000

Third place – $500

Fourth-through 10th places – $50 each

Classroom grants for teachers of top three winners – a $500

Grant to school with most qualifying essay submissions – $1,000

Winners will be recognized in November at a ceremony at the Bryan Simson U.S. Courthouse in Jacksonville. In addition, the first-place winner will be given the opportunity to shadow a federal judge for a day.

For the contest rules and additional information about the Essay Contest and how to enter visit www.flmd.uscourts.gov under the “Court in the Community” section.