Who Can Apply: The competition is open to all current law students, post 2015 law graduates, and all masters of law students. Co-authored submissions are eligible; if selected, the co-authors will share the prize. Each submission must be an original, unpublished academic work, but simultaneous submissions will be accepted.
Submission: In your essay, COURT SECRECY may be treated broadly or very specifically. However, underlying your essay should be how secrecy may or may not affect unsafe products, problematic practices, or behavior that should be discouraged. For instance, you may consider the practice, risks, or remedies of entering into or signing documents such as: 1) protective orders; 2) confidentiality orders or agreements; or 3) non-disclosure agreements.
- Essays may also discuss the benefits of any of these, as well as any existing or suggested limitations.
- Essays also may (again at your discretion) address topics such as how subsequent courts should deal with or have dealt with items that have been made secret either by courts in prior related or unrelated litigation or between parties whose precise dispute is not before the court that must weigh the secrecy provided by the previously signed agreement or order.
- For example, an essay could advocate that it should be considered unethical conduct for a lawyer or judge to sign a protective order or confidentiality agreement that does not make an exception for evidence of public safety hazards, dangerous product design, or unsafe practice.
Deadline: April 30, 2020
Amount: $5,000
Learn More: https://www.citizen.org/article/the-2020-hogan-smoger-access-to-justice-essay-competition/