Law Day 2024

The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, and the

Santa Clara County Bar Association proudly present:

Law Day 2024 Video Contest

"Voices of Democracy"

The 2024 Law Day theme, “Voices of Democracy”, recognizes that in democracies, the people rule. For nearly 250 years, Americans have expressed their political views and wishes by speaking their minds and voting in elections. In 2024, the United States will hold its 60th presidential election, and Americans will address fundamental questions about democracy and the rule of law.

The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, invites you to join us in encouraging our community members to participate in the 2024 elections by deepening their understanding of the electoral process, discussing issues in honest and civil ways, turning out to vote, and finally, helping to move the country forward after free and fair elections. In this way, we ensure our government remains responsive to the wishes of the people. We invite youth, ages 12-20, to join us in 2024 to celebrate Law Day by lifting their voices to strengthen our democracy.

Learn More About American Democracy by Visiting these Websites:

Get Creative:

Create a video (two minutes or less) that responds to one of the four prompts below. Be creative. We encourage students to express themselves as they see fit!

Submissions should be of the students’ original work.

Prompts:

How can individual citizens use their voices to fulfill the promise of the Constitution?
Where does power reside within our constitutional democracy?
Discuss the importance of expressing political views and voting in elections as essential components of democratic participation. Explore how these actions contribute to shaping the direction of a nation and ensuring government responsiveness to the needs and desires of its citizens.
In what ways can individuals deepen their understanding of the electoral process to become informed and engaged participants in democracy? Consider the role of education, civic engagement initiatives, and community involvement in fostering a well-informed electorate.

Schools may also request a visit from a judicial officer and attorney to discuss the topic prior to the due date. These visits will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Submit Your Entry:

To submit your video, email the video link to events@scscourt.org. Include the student’s name, grade level (open to Santa Clara County youth, ages 12-20), and school. Use the hashtag “#SCLawDay2024” when sharing through TikTok, YouTube, Vimeo, or other media sharing platform.

Submissions are due by Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

Prizes:

All those who enter the contest will receive a certificate of participation. The top three winners will be awarded a prize. The top three entries will also be published on the Court’s public website and social media accounts (X, Facebook, and LinkedIn). Unless explicitly stated that the video should not be circulated publicly, it is implied that the submission can be posted publicly as a winning entry.

Questions:

Questions may be directed to events@scscourt.org

Important Lawyer Stuff:

Submissions will not be accepted and are ineligible if they include any content that contains or appears to contain profane, obscene, or inappropriate material; glorifies or condones, endorses or encourages any illegal activity; and/or includes any derogatory characterization of any person or group based on age, race, color, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, marital status, mental or physical disability, citizenship, creed, national origin, physical appearance, political affiliation, union membership, or other unethical or unlawful factors.

All entries become the property of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. Students are encouraged to keep copies of their entries. Excerpts from submissions may be displayed in Judicial Branch publications and/or websites. Entries will not be used for commercial purposes.