Forty years ago, the Supreme Court held in New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325 (1985), that the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures applies to the conduct of public school officials. Based on the facts of the case, the Court upheld as reasonable a warrantless search of a student’s purse by school officials. Almost 30 years later, the Supreme Court held in Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014), that cell phones generally cannot be searched without a warrant.
How do T.L.O. and Riley impact the search of a student’s cell phone by school officials on public school grounds, and how would you protect a student’s rights while balancing the school’s responsibility to maintain a safe and effective learning environment?
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 2025 Essay Contest is now open to all students currently in grades 6 through 12 from Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Students are invited to consider and share their thoughts on the question: “How do T.L.O. and Riley impact the search of a student’s cell phone by school officials on public school grounds, and how would you protect a student’s rights while balancing the school’s responsibility to maintain a safe and effective learning environment?”
Grades 9-12: are limited to 500-750 words, and students have the opportunity to win one of three cash prizes: first place, $1,000; second place, $750; and third place, $500.
Grades 6-8: Essays are limited to 250-500 words, and students have the opportunity to win one of three cash prizes: first place, $250; second place, $175; and third place, $100.
Deadline: Entry form and essay must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Winners will be announced in August, and the winning essays will be presented at the Fourth Circuit’s Constitution Day Program in September 2025.
For additional information, questions to consider, and instructions on how to submit your essay, visit www.ca4.uscourts.gov/essay-contest.
For questions, contact the Fourth Circuit Clerk’s Office at essaycontest@ca4.uscourts.gov or (804) 916-2715.
Please note: Prior award winners as well as children, grandchildren, stepchildren, and members of the household of a federal judge or federal judiciary employee are excluded from the competition.
