Juries: Through the Eyes of Students

2026 Student Art Competition

Enter the Judicial Learning Center’s 2026 Student Art Competition – Juries: Through the Eyes of Students! Winners will receive cash prizes and their artwork will be displayed for one year in the Jury Assembly Room at the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in St. Louis. Entry in the competition is free and open to all students in grades 1-12 (including public, private and home-schooled) within the Eastern District of Missouri.

July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. One the British colonists’ major complaints against the King was the denial of their right to a trial by jury. The colonists considered this a foundational right to a just system of government – worthy of separation from a tyrannical king. Use your artistic skills to illustrate why this critical right is still one of our most important civic responsibilities today.

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.

– The Declaration of Independence

"Emotions" by Alexander Carvalho

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded per grade level category: Lower Elementary (1 - 2), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12).

1st Place = $250 cash, ribbon, and certificate
2nd Place = $100 cash, ribbon, and certificate
3rd Place = $50 cash, ribbon, and certificate
Honorable Mention = ribbon and certificate

Official Contest Rules

Open to students in Grades 1 - 12 in the Eastern District of Missouri. NOTE: All three highlighted divisions are included in the Eastern District.
All artwork must be original.
Only the following mediums will be accepted: painting (oil, watercolor, etc.), drawing (pencil, ink, pastels, charcoal, etc.), prints (block prints, silkscreen, etc.), mixed media (must use more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.), and/or collage (two-dimensional only).
Artwork must be no larger than 16” x 20” and no smaller than 8” x 10”and can be any shape so long as maximum dimensions are not exceeded. Layout may be horizontal or vertical. No frame is necessary.
No three-dimensional entries will be accepted. Entries must be flat and on paper, thin canvas, or similar.
No photography or computer-generated entries will be accepted.
Only one entry per student is allowed.
Student should sign or initial entry in lower right corner.
Students should enter only original work. Plagiarism is not acceptable, including work copied from photograph, painting, graphic, etc., created by someone other than the student. Students should visit the Scholastic website: https://www.artandwriting.org/awards/how-to-enter/copyright-plagiarism/
All entries must include a signed Student Entry and Release Form.

Student Entry and Release Form

Entry & Deadline

Each entry must include a completed and signed Student Entry and Release Form, along with the original artwork.
Entry must be postmarked (tracking recommended) or hand-delivered (by appointment only), no later than 4:00 PM on Monday, March 30, 2026.
Note: Teachers may contact us for a bulk submit option for classes.

Judging

Judging will be done by an independent panel of lawyers identified by the non-profit Judicial Learning Center, Inc. Artwork will be judged based on the following criteria: originality, design, technique, content, and appeal to the theme of “Juries.”

Resources for Teaching

Regardless of grade or subject matter, the Judicial Learning Center has resources to help you teach about juries!