Overview and Background
In 1993, then UCONN Law School students Cheryl Sharp and Rae Thiesfield-Vann developed and launched the first Kids Court Competition in the greater Hartford area to educate students about diversity and civil and human rights issues.
After receiving approval from the governor’s office in 1996, Attorneys Sharp and Thiesfield-Vann co-chaired the first statewide Kids Court Competition and Kids Speak event. The Competition, sponsored by the CHRO, successfully ran for five straight years, allowing thousands of students to participate. In 2000, Kids Court was selected by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as one of the best practice award winners, and received the “Simply the Best” award. Kids Court has been featured on Fox 61 news, WFSB 3 and in local papers throughout the state. The CT Bar Association recognized the CT Kids Court program at the 2023 Celebrate with the Stars award celebration.
Prior to the pandemic, the CT Kids Court Essay Competition would kick off in May with Kids Speak, an event held at UCONN Law. Kids Speak provided an opportunity for students to participate in group exercises, improvisations, debates, and to hear from a panel of experts on diversity issues, educational equity, anti-bullying, and school climate. We look forward to the return of Kids Speak in 2027!
The Kids Court Essay Competition Today
Kids Court is an annual essay competition for Connecticut middle and high school students related to topics of civil and human rights and social justice. Each year, CHRO picks five subjects to raise students’ consciousness on current topics like diversity, school climate and culture, anti-bullying, equal protection, neighborhood isolation and housing, educational equity, health equity, individuality, and much, much more!
Students write a short essay on one of the five chosen topics. The essays are judged and graded based on the student’s understanding of the topic, consistency of the argument, persuasiveness, civil rights issues addressed, creativity, and thoughtfulness. The highest-scoring students have an opportunity to compete for prizes in CHRO’s Oral Kids Court Competition.
2026 Kids Court Brochure
CHRO offers a brochure you can download with details about the 2026 Kids Court program. It includes an overview of the contest, its purpose, eligibility, rules, and background information.
2026 CHRO Kids Court Brochure (PDF)
Program Purpose
Kids Speak and Kids Court support CHRO’s mission to end discrimination and promote equal opportunity. These programs help students think about civil rights issues and share ideas with respect for others.
Kids Speak and Kids Court History
2026 Kids Court (PDF)
Scoring rubric for the essays
