Husain Family Legal Essay Competition

The Liberal Arts Honors Program is happy to announce the 2026 Husain Family Legal Essay Competition. To enter the competition, please write and submit an essay that responds to the prompt listed below.

Eligibility: Current Liberal Arts Honors Scholars

Specifications: 750 – 1,000 words, double-spaced, titled 

Awards:

1st Prize: $1,000

2nd Prize: $500

3rd Prize: $250

Submission Deadline: Monday, March 9, 2026 11:59 p.m.

Upload your essay here. Please be sure to include your name and EID in the title of file and at the top of your essay.

Prompt:

Elected Judges or Appointed Judges: Which system is better?

Article 3 of the United States Constitution says that federal judges shall "hold their Offices during good Behaviour"--commonly understood to be a lifetime appointment after Senate confirmation. State judges, on the other hand, can be either appointed or elected. The vast majority of state trial court judges and appellate court justices are elected or face retention elections during their tenures. Among state supreme courts, there is a roughly even split of appointed and elected justices nationwide. Which system is better and for whom? Advocates of lifetime tenure cite the lack of external pressures, consistency in rulings, and ability to change one's judicial philosophy over their career. Advocates of judicial elections often taught accountability, stronger connection to community desires, and regular turnover. But who is served best by each system, and which system is best for federal and state judicial systems?