United States District & Bankruptcy Courts
2024 Civics Contest
2024 Civics Contest

70 YEARS LATER -- THE LEGACY OF BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION

2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the United State Supreme Court’s 1954 landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. In Brown, a unanimous Supreme Court held that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court struck down the “separate but equal” doctrine that it had adopted in Plessy v. Ferguson, an 1896 case that addressed whether states could legally require railroad companies to provide equal but separate accommodations for passengers of different races.

Brown v. Board of Education is widely accepted as one of the most momentous Supreme Court decisions, but views differ regarding what impact it has had on the law and our society. In addressing this topic, discuss what impact you think Brown has had and why. The following are some examples of questions that you could consider in thinking about these issues:

  • Did Brown influence changes in the law, or in society, beyond the decision in that case, or were any changes that happened after Brown inevitable?
  • Did Brown affect the way that Americans view the Supreme Court, or affect how the Supreme Court conducts itself?
  • Should the Supreme Court consider how its decision on a particular subject impacts society, or how the decision is viewed by the public?


Individual students can express their thoughts and ideas in an essay of between 500 and 1,000 words. Individuals or teams of up to three students can produce a 3-5 minute video on the theme. A student may submit both an essay and a video, but only one of each.

The 2024 District of Idaho Civics Contest is open to high school students in 9th through 12th grade residing in the State of Idaho.  Students from public, private, parochial and charter schools, as well as homeschooled students of equivalent grade status, may enter.

Please review the 2024 Civics Contest Flyer and 2024 Civics Contest Rules for more information.  Submissions will be accepted from January 8, 2024, to March 8, 2024.


2024 Civics Contest Flyer
2024 Civics Contest Rules