2027 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest

An essay and video contest for high school students in the western United States, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands sponsored by the United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit.

Prompt Announcement

Enrich your curriculum, and give your students a meaningful way to earn extra credit through the 2027 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest! This essay and video contest is open to grades 9-12 across public, private, charter, and homeschool settings.

The Art of the Compromise—Civil Discourse Lessons Learned from American History

Throughout American history, citizens have disagreed over fundamental questions of constitutional principles, individual rights and public policy issues. Examples include the debate over ratifying the Constitution, slavery and states’ rights before the Civil War, women’s suffrage, civil rights, immigration and freedom of speech.

Choose one historical disagreement on fundamental constitutional principles, and explain how people on different sides expressed their views and compromised. From your example, discuss what today’s citizens can learn about their responsibility to engage in productive civil debate and seek principled compromise when addressing important public issues.

Contest opens Jan. 6, 2027.
Deadline for submission is March 5, 2027.

Winners at the Ninth Circuit level will receive cash prizes, in addition to any prizes offered by their local judicial district—one of 15 across the circuit. First-place winners at the circuit level will be invited to attend part of the 2027 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.

The 2027 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest is sponsored by the U.S. Courts for the Ninth Circuit and the Ninth Circuit Public Information and Community Outreach (PICO) Committee.