2013 Law Day Contest

2013 ABA YLD Law Day Contest Winners

On May 1, 2013 it was announced that Amelia Schon of Mason High School in Mason, Mich., won the third annual Law Day Contest for single entry and that Ann Keating and Michael Keating of Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, N.J., won first place in the group submission category.

Schon’s artwork, titled “Dripping with Aequalis,” is based on this year’s Law Day theme, “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.”

“This piece has tremendous depth,” said Christopher A. Rogers, chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Division. “Amelia’s entry best captured the understanding of the Law Day 2013 theme in a clear and compelling illustration that forces the observer to reflect on equality and consider the work that remains unfinished. The attention to detail in her artwork is truly outstanding.”

In the spirit of collaboration, the Ann Keating and Michael Keating’s artwork was titled “Law Day Collage.”

“It is a well-thought-out artistic expression that speaks to the foundation on which the principles of equality and justice are built,” said Lacy Durham, public service director of the ABA Young Lawyers Division. “This piece is deserving of this award. I hope that more young people will start to realize Dr. King’s dream and strive to make it a reality.”

Durham added: “The Law Day Contest sparks so much excitement! It is amazing to see how young people over the country express their appreciation for the law and their understanding of the judicial system.” 

The winners of the contest will receive prizes up to $750 and a party hosted by the ABA Young Lawyers Division in their hometowns.

Finalists were evaluated based on originality, creativity, quality and relevance to the contest theme. Kiena Cooks of James H. Bowen High School in Chicago was the runner-up in the single-entry category.

The annual Law Day Contest is an opportunity for students to learn about the legal system. All U.S. students, grades 9 to 12, were eligible to submit an art piece on this year’s contest theme.

Co-sponsors of the contest were the ABA Standing Committee on Judicial Independence and the ABA Division for Public Education.

About the Theme

“Realizing the Dream: Equality for All”

The promise of equality under the law is what has made America a beacon to other nations. It is a pledge clearly set forth in the Declaration of Independence and in the opening words of the Preamble of the Constitution, “We the People.” It is, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, the proposition to which our nation is dedicated.  

The year 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1963, during the Proclamation’s centennial, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial and called upon our nation to live up to the great promise, enshrined in its founding documents, of equality for all. Five decades later, the inspirational words of Rev. Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech continue to resonate and challenge us to live up to our national ideal of equality under the law. The legacy of the Civil Rights Movement can be seen in the strides that have been made against discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation.

Law Day, May 1, 2013, will provide an opportunity to explore the movement for civil and human rights in America and the impact it has had in promoting the ideal of equality under the law. It will provide a forum for reflecting on the work that remains to be done in rectifying injustice, eliminating all forms of discrimination, and putting an end to human trafficking and other violations of our basic human rights. As Rev. Dr. King pointed out in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

“As we reflect on this year’s Law Day, let us work together to achieve the aspirations so eloquently expressed by Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Let us unite and commit ourselves to assuring that all citizens of this great country have the opportunity to realize the dream of liberty and equality.” -- American Bar Association President Laura Bellows

About the Contest

This annual contest provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about our legal system, justice, get creative and win prizes. The contest can be incorporated into a curriculum, offered as extra credit, or just done for fun.  Individual and groups submissions are welcomed.

Students are allowed to submit an art piece which may be represented in two-dimensions to be entered in the Law Day Art Contest.  Students are encouraged to use their creativity and create art pieces in any medium desired (including, but not limited to, drawings, paintings, films, photographs, graphic novels, comics, etc.).

The Law Day Contest is open to students, student groups, and classes attending a public or private high school, or being home schooled, within the United States and in grades 9-12 or the equivalent.

All qualified participants under the age of 18 must have their parent or guardian sign the Parental Permission Release Form, and each Entry Form must be signed by an adult.  See the official rules for more information.

For more information, please contact Tara Blasingame.