Douglas County Legal Essay Contest

The Douglas County Legal Essay Contest is an annual competition for high school seniors who attend high school in Douglas County. Cash prizes are awarded for the top three essays written on the legal or law related topic chosen for that year's competition. The contest is sponsored by the Douglas County Law Library and the Douglas County Bar Association. The first contest was held in the spring of 2008.

Copies of all winning essays are available in the Law Library. Most winning essays are also available on this website. To access an essay, click on the essay author's name and follow the link.

2012

The 2012 essay contest has begun. The topic for 2012 is “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Discuss and analyze why the American justice system is or is not the fairest in the world.” Deadline for submission is midnight April 16, 2012. For more information including the full contest rules and where and how to submit entries, see http://www.douglascolawlibrary.org/essaycontestrules.html.

Contest Winners

2011

Topic: Does the Second Amendment Allow Ownership of Assault Weapons?

First Place - Joshua Myers - Veritas Christian School.
Second Place - Colin Thomas - Baldwin High School.
Third Place - Ann Wallsmith - Baldwin High School.

2010

Topic: Constitutional Limits of Search and Seizure in Public Schools: What Should They Be?

First Place - Dylan Brooks - Lawrence Free State High School.
Second Place - Molly Bostwick - Baldwin High School.
Third Place - Lauren Barnes - Baldwin High School.

2009

Topic: The Significance of Separation of Church and State in our Government.

First Place - Hannah Kapp-Klote - Lawrence Free State High School.
Second Place - Nash Riggins - Lawrence Free State High School.
Third Place - Colin Busby - Baldwin High School.

2008

Topic: The Importance of an Independent Judiciary.

First Place - Marianne Schroer - Baldwin High School.
Second Place - Sarah Eberhart - Baldwin High School.
Third Place - Jodie Beuthien - Baldwin High School.

The author of each year's first place essay will have his or her name added to a plaque in the Law Library. In addition, a copy of each year's first place essay is kept in the Law Library.

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For more information, contact the Law Library at: info@douglascolawlibrary.org.

Comments to: Webmaster: Kerry Altenbernd, Law Librarian, Douglas County Law Library, Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 East 11th Street, Lawrence, KS  66044.

Created: February 20, 2008; Revised: February 3, 2012