2025-2026 Essay Contest
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After the Gavel Falls: Navigating Education Policy in the Wake of Mahmoud v. Taylor
25-26 Topic
Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellows Quintin Johnstone 25-26 Statewide High School Essay Contest Topic
Topic: After the Gavel Falls: Navigating Education Policy in the Wake of Mahmoud v. Taylor
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, Cooper High School has received a surge of parental opt-out requests for curriculum content that allegedly conflicts with religious beliefs. The ruling affirms that parents have the right to exempt their children from instruction that “substantially interferes” with their religious upbringing. However, the application of this ruling has led to inconsistent treatment of students and raised serious legal questions.Senior David Kim was excused from AP Biology lessons on evolution and genetics after his parents submitted a written opt-out request. David complied without incident, though he privately expressed concern about missing essential content for his intended career in medicine.
Junior Emma Walsh, however, refused to leave her AP Chemistry class during a unit on carbon dating, despite her parents’ opt-out request. Emma argued that the lesson did not conflict with her personal beliefs and that, as a nearly 18-year-old student, she should have the right to decide what she learns. The school suspended Emma for insubordination, citing the parents’ authority under Mahmoud v. Taylor.
Emma’s suspension has sparked debate. Critics argue that the school applied the law inconsistently—granting David’s opt-out without issue while punishing Emma for asserting her autonomy. Others question whether the school is legally obligated to enforce parental opt-outs when the student objects.
The Board of Education now seeks legal guidance on whether Emma’s suspension was lawful and appropriate under current constitutional and educational standards.
As legal counsel to the Board of Education, draft a memorandum analyzing the validity of Emma Walsh’s suspension. In your analysis, address the following questions:
- Should Mahmoud v. Taylor require schools to enforce parental opt-out requests even when the student objects?
- Consider the legal rights of minors in educational settings.
- Evaluate whether Emma’s age and expressed autonomy affect the school’s obligations.
- Was Emma’s suspension for insubordination justified, or could it be challenged as a violation of her educational or constitutional rights?
- Assess whether the disciplinary action was proportionate and procedurally sound.
- Consider potential claims of viewpoint discrimination or denial of access to education.
- What policies should the district adopt to ensure consistent, lawful handling of future opt-out conflicts between parents and students
- Recommend procedures for evaluating opt-out requests.
- Suggest guidelines for balancing parental rights with student autonomy and educational integrity.
Support your analysis with relevant legal principles, case law, and policy considerations. Your goal is to help the Board navigate this complex issue with clarity, fairness, and legal compliance.
- Should Mahmoud v. Taylor require schools to enforce parental opt-out requests even when the student objects?
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Naugatuck High School
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Danbury High School
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Seymour High School
Photo Credit: Tricia Rose, Tricia Rose Photography
2024-2025 Essay Contest
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From Flags to Factions: Examining Student Expression and School Policy
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Wilton High School
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West Haven High School
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Greenwich High School
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Additional Contest Information
About the Essay Contest
Now in its 25th year, the Essay Contest was started by the Foundation’s James W. Cooper Fellows in 2000. The purpose of the essay contest is to get young people in Connecticut thinking about and exploring legal issues relevant to them.
In 2011, the Essay Contest was named after Quintin Johnstone, who was a professor at Yale Law School before his death in 2014. Johnstone served as past president of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, participated in a variety of Fellows projects for many years, and was a longtime member of the Fellows Education and Program Committee, which helps to organize Fellows projects like the annual Essay Contest.
Last year's contest generated over 100 entries from across Connecticut. The Foundation thanks the student essayists, and the schools and teachers who supported them, for their participation.
We also wish to thank the Connecticut Supreme Court for their continued support of the Essay Contest, and for welcoming us back to the court on June 4, 2024, for our awards ceremony.
Finally, we want to thank the over 140 attorneys and judges from across the state who reviewed and scored the essays last year. Justices and judges who participated in the final round of judging for the 2023-2024 contest were: Justice Richard Palmer, Justice Raheem Mullins, Judge Alexandra DiPentima, Judge Ingrid Moll, and Judge Maureen Dennis.
2024-2025 Essay Contest Committee
Justine C. Rakich-Kelly, co-chair
Sonia Pedraza, co-chairHon. Claudia Baio
Jeff Blumenthal
Sheila Charmoy
Matthew Cholewa
Ann-Marie DeGraffenreidt
Hon. Anna Ficeto
Susan Freedman
Gary Giaimo
Emily Gianquinto
Gary R. Gold
Hon. Ernest Green, Jr.
Sara Greene
Gail Hardy
Rob Harris
Hon. Maureen Keegan
Noah Kores
Tamara Kagan Levine
Bill Logue
Ernest Mattei
Yamuna Menon
Colleen M. Murphy
Sara Nadim
Hon. Maureen Price-Boreland
Linda Randell
Hon. Angela Robinson (Ret.)
Dan Schwartz
Carolyn Signorelli
Hon. Nada Sizemore (Ret.)
Jack G. Steigelfest
Hon. James Tancredi
Hon. Cecil J. Thomas
Hon. Erika Tindill
Dave Vatti
Gayle Wintjen
2023-2024 Essay Contest
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“Battle of the Bytes: AI vs. Academic Integrity”*
*title generated by ChatGPT -
Simsbury High School
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East Hampton High School
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Rocky Hill High School
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Additional Contest Information
About the Essay Contest
Now in its 24th year, the Essay Contest was started by the Foundation’s James W. Cooper Fellows in 2000. The purpose of the essay contest is to get young people in Connecticut thinking about and exploring legal issues relevant to them.
In 2011, the Essay Contest was named after Quintin Johnstone, who was a professor at Yale Law School before his death in 2014. Johnstone served as past president of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, participated in a variety of Fellows projects for many years, and was a longtime member of the Fellows Education and Program Committee, which helps to organize Fellows projects like the annual Essay Contest.
This year's contest generated over 100 entries from across Connecticut. The Foundation thanks the student essayists, and the schools and teachers who supported them, for their participation.
We also wish to thank the Connecticut Supreme Court for their continued support of the Essay Contest, and for welcoming us back to the court on June 4, 2024, for our awards ceremony.
Finally, we want to thank the over 140 attorneys and judges from across the state who reviewed and scored the essays this year. Justices and judges who participated in the final round of judging for the 2023-2024 contest were: Justice Richard Palmer, Justice Raheem Mullins, Judge Alexandra DiPentima, Judge Ingrid Moll, and Judge Maureen Dennis.
Click here to view a complete list of the 2023-2024 Essay Contest Judges
2023-2024 Essay Contest CommitteeJustine C. Rakich-Kelly, chair
Hon. Claudia Baio
Jeff Blumenthal
Sheila Charmoy
Matthew Cholewa
Ann-Marie DeGraffenreidt
Susan Freedman
Gary Giaimo
Emily Gianquinto
Gary R. Gold
Hon. Ernest Green, Jr.
Sara Greene
Gail Hardy
Rob Harris
Hon. Maureen Keegan
Noah Kores
Tamara Kagan Levine
Bill Logue
Ernest Mattei
Yamuna Menon
Colleen M. Murphy
Sara Nadim
Hon. Maureen Price-Boreland
Linda Randell
Hon. Angela Robinson
Dan Schwartz
Carolyn Signorelli
Hon. Nada Sizemore (Ret.)
Jack G. Steigelfest
Hon. James Tancredi
Hon. Cecil J. Thomas
Hon. Erika Tindill
Dave Vatti
Gayle Wintjen
2022-2023 Essay Contest
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"Out with the Books"
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University High School of Science and Engineering
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East Hampton High School
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The Woodstock Academy
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Additional Contest Information
About the Essay Contest
Now in its 23rd year, the Essay Contest was started by the Foundation’s James W. Cooper Fellows in 2000. The purpose of the essay contest is to get young people in Connecticut thinking about and exploring legal issues relevant to them.
In 2011, the Essay Contest was named after Quintin Johnstone, who was a professor at Yale Law School before his death in 2014. Johnstone served as past president of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, participated in a variety of Fellows projects for many years, and was a longtime member of the Fellows Education and Program Committee, which helps to organize Fellows projects like the annual Essay Contest.
The 2022-2023 contest generated over 100 entries from across Connecticut. The Foundation thanks the student essayists, and the schools and teachers who supported them, for their participation.
We also wish to thank the Connecticut Supreme Court for their continued support of the Essay Contest, and for welcoming us back to the court on June 6, 2023, for our awards ceremony.
Finally, we want to thank the over 140 attorneys and judges from across the state who reviewed and scored the essays this year. Justices, judges, and attorneys who participated in the final round of judging for the 2022-2023 contest were: Justice Richard Palmer, Judge Alexandra DiPentima, Judge Ingrid Moll, Judge Maureen Dennis, and Attorney Robert Harris.
Click here to view a complete list of the 2022-2023 Essay Contest Judges.
2022-2023 Essay Contest Committee
Justine C. Rakich-Kelly, Chair
Hon. Claudia Baio
Jeff Blumenthal
Sheila Charmoy
David R. Chipman
Matthew Cholewa
Ann-Marie DeGraffenreidt
Susan Freedman
Gary Giaimo
Emily Gianquinto
Gary R. Gold
Hon. Ernest Green, Jr.
Gail Hardy
Rob Harris
Hon. Maureen Keegan
Tamara Kagan Levine
Bill Logue
Ernest Mattei
Yamuna Menon
Colleen M. Murphy
Sara Nadim
Dean Eboni Nelson
Hon. Cesar Noble
Hon. Maureen Price-Boreland
Linda Randell
Hon. Angela Robinson (Ret.)
Dan Schwartz
Carolyn Signorelli
Jack G. Steigelfest
Hon. James Tancredi
Hon. Erika Tindill
Hon. Dave Vatti
Gayle Wintjen
2021-2022 Essay Contest
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"Throwing Away Our Shot?"
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Canterbury School
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East Hampton High School
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Greenwich High School
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Additional Contest Information
About the Essay Contest
Now in its 22nd year, the Essay Contest was started by the Foundation’s James W. Cooper Fellows in 2000. The purpose of the essay contest is to get young people in Connecticut thinking about and exploring legal issues relevant to them.
In 2011, the Essay Contest was named after Quintin Johnstone, who was a professor at Yale Law School before his death in 2014. Johnstone served as past president of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, participated in a variety of Fellows projects for many years, and was a longtime member of the Fellows Education and Program Committee, which helps to organize Fellows projects like the annual Essay Contest.
This year’s contest generated 145 entries from 46 schools across Connecticut. The Foundation thanks the student essayists, and the schools and teachers who supported them, for their participation.
We also wish to thank the Connecticut Supreme Court for their continued support of the Essay Contest, and for welcoming us back to the court for our first in-person awards ceremony since 2019. The Foundation is so grateful that we were able to honor our winners at a special ceremony on June 8, 2022.
Finally, we want to thank the over 140 attorneys and judges from across the state who reviewed and scored the essays this year. Justices and judges who participated in the final round of judging for the 2021-2022 contest were: Justice Raheem Mullins, Justice Maria Araujo Kahn, Justice Richard Palmer, Judge Alexandra DiPentima, and Judge Ingrid Moll.
Click here to view a complete list of the 2021-2022 Essay Contest Judges
2021-2022 Essay Contest Committee
Robert A. Harris & Justine C. Rakich-Kelly, Co-Chairs
Sheila Charmoy
Matthew Cholewa
Hon. Maureen Keegan
William Logue
Ann-Marie DeGraffenreidt
Dean Eboni S. Nelson
Susan Freedman
Hon. Maureen Price-Boreland
Gerald Giaimo
Hon. Angela C. Robinson
Gary R. Gold
Dan Schwartz
Hon. Ernest Green, Jr.
Carolyn Signorelli
Gail Hardy
Jack G. Steigelfest
Tamara Kagan Levine
Hon. S. Dave Vatti
Gayle Wintjen
