Essay, video contests for NMI high school students

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Miranda decision next year, the U.S. District Court for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Ninth Circuit Courts and Community Committee is sponsoring an essay and video contest for high school students in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Cash prizes in both contests is $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place.

In 2016, the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Miranda v. Arizona. In that 1996 case, the court ruled that someone taken into police custody must be informed—prior to questioning—of their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Now referred to as a “Miranda Warning” or a recitation of “Miranda Rights,” police must advise persons in custody of their right to remain silent and their right to an attorney.

The 2016 Ninth Circuit Civics Scholarship Contests asks high school students to consider how Miranda rights  came to be defined, how they are safeguarded by the federal courts and why they are so important to our system of justice.

The contest has two components: 1) Individual students can express their thoughts and ideas in an essay of 500 to 750 words, and 2) Individual students or teams of up to three students may submit a 2-3 minute video presentation on the theme. Students may participate in one or both competitions.

The contest is open to students in nine western states, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Sophomores, juniors and seniors in public, private and parochial high schools and home-schooled students of equivalent status may participate. The contest begins Jan. 1, 2016, and ends on April 15, 2016. Circuit contest winners will be announced in June. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in both the essay and video competitions. Contest rules, entry instructions and other information are available at http://ca9.uscourts.gov/civicscontest.

The U.S. District Court for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands will conduct preliminary judging for the contest. The top three finishers in the essay and video competitions at the district level will go on to compete in the Ninth Circuit contest. Students must reside in the Northern Mariana Islands.

For more information about the district judging, contact Amanda Hayes at (670) 237-1230 or via email at amanda_hayes@nmid.uscourts.gov.