U.S. District Court and the Massachusetts Chapter of the FBA Host: Bill of Rights Student Essay Contest Event

On February 2nd, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Chapter of the Federal Bar Association hosted a virtual event to celebrate participants in their recent essay contest to honor the Bill of Rights Month in December.  Public high school students across Boston, Worcester, and Springfield entered to win a first-place prize of $500 and-second place prize of $300 upon answering the following questions: (1) What do you think is the most important amendment, and why?; and (2) Why is this amendment just as important today as it was when it was created?  The judging committee consisted of: Chief Judge Dennis Saylor, District Judge Timothy Hillman, Magistrate Judge Judith Dein, Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson, FBA President Erika Reis and FBA Board Member Annabel Rodriguez.  After lengthy deliberations, the committee awarded first place to Mira Yu from Boston Latin School, and second place to Anya Geist from South High Community School in Worcester.

      

Mira Yu                                    Anya Geist

The event began with brief opening remarks from Erika and Judge Dein. Erika welcomed students, teachers, and members of the bar to the event.  Judge Dein shared how difficult it was for the committee to come to their decision after receiving many outstanding submissions, and thanked all students for participating.  She then welcomed the event’s keynote speaker, Jason Wise.  Jason is a Theater Arts teacher at the Dennis C. Haley Pilot School in Roslindale, MA.  Since 2007, he has served as the civil rights instructor for the Judge David S. Nelson Fellowship at the U.S. District Court, a six-week summer program geared towards high school students who are interested in the judicial system and developing networking and leadership skills.  Jason asked the audience to consider the importance of the Bill of Rights in 2021 and explored how each amendment, beginning with the powerful First Amendment, allows us all to tell our own stories.  Attendees then had small group discussions on which amendment they personally feel is most important, and why.

Following the breakout rooms, Erika announced the second place winner, Anya Geist. Anya is a ninth grade student at South High Community School in Worcester.  She is an intern with the literary magazine Stone Soup and has launched a literary magazine at her school with her friend.  Perhaps most strikingly, in Spring 2020 she finished her first novel, to be published in late 2021.  In her free time, Anya enjoys swimming, playing tennis, and writing.  Anya’s essay focused on the First Amendment.   Anya explained that the First Amendment is the most important amendment because it is “integral to the American identity” and gives people the right to protest and practice their religion.  However, in her essay Anya recognized the conflict that exists with the First Amendment because it also allows for speech that can offend others.  According to Anya, “[i]t is a paradox that our nation has been trying to figure out for centuries.”

Erika then introduced the first place winner, Mira Yu. Mira is a sophomore at Boston Latin School.  She competes in Program Oral Interpretation and Public Forum as a member of her school’s speech and debate team.  She is also involved with her school’s mock trial team, varsity swim team, newspaper, writing magazine, and Junior Classical League.  Mira’s essay focused on the Nineteenth Amendment.  Mira explained that the Nineteenth Amendment is the most important amendment “not just for its hope of granting voting rights to all, but for revealing the persistent struggle to protect those rights that continues to this day.”  She explained that the passage of the amendment would not have been possible without the hard work of “immigrants, working-class women, and women of color who built a movement that would initially secure voting rights only for white women.”  Mira concludes that to battle current voter discrimination and suppression threats, “we must look to the battle for the 19th Amendment in which activists and organizations unified to change public perception to convince state lawmakers to support voting rights.”

After hearing from both winners, the judging panel and audience members had the opportunity to share their reflections on the pieces and congratulate the winners on their hard work and thought-provoking essays.

The following students were recognized during the event as honorable mentions:

  • Katherine Martin, Boston Latin School, wrote on the First Amendment
  • Peter Chen, Boston Latin School, wrote on the Twenty-Fourth Amendment
  • Zcarri Weekes, John D. O’Bryant, wrote on the Thirteenth Amendment
  • Matthew Pretlow, The Springfield Renaissance School, wrote on the Fourth Amendment
  • Alexandra Coran, South High Community School, wrote on the First Amendment
  • Jason Murillo, South High Community School, wrote on the Fifth Amendment
  • Irene Deng, Boston Latin School, wrote on the First Amendment
  • Owen Casey, Boston Latin School, wrote on the Fourteenth Amendment
  • Christine Nteturuye, Springfield Honors Academy, wrote on the First Amendment

In their closing remarks, Erika and Jason congratulated the winners and thanked all essayists for taking the time to make their voices heard, and encouraged them to participate again in the future.

About the FBA

Founded in 1920, the Federal Bar Association is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law. Our more than 16,000 members run the gamut of federal practice: attorneys practicing in small to large legal firms, attorneys in corporations and federal agencies, and members of the judiciary. The FBA is the catalyst for communication between the bar and the bench, as well as the private and public sectors. Visit us at fedbar.org to learn more.