Savannah High School Student Named GTLA 7^th Amendment Scholarship Essay Competition Grand Prize Winner

Atlanta, GA – Today, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association announced that James Berrigan, a Savannah resident and graduating senior at Savannah Arts Academy, has been named the Grand Prize Award Winner in the 7^th Amendment Scholarship Essay Competition. Designed to recognize college-bound high school seniors who exhibit a keen awareness of the societal and judicial value of the 7^th Amendment Right to Trial by Jury and Georgia’s Civil Justice System, the competition drew dozens of applicants from across the state.

“I would like to congratulate James on this outstanding achievement. His essay submission exhibited a remarkable depth of knowledge about the history, importance and present-day value of the 7^th Amendment Right to Trial by Jury,” remarked GTLA Executive Director Emily Wring. “The values he expresses in his essay – including a strong belief in the vital role that a robust Civil Justice System plays in society – align directly with those of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and we are proud to award him this scholarship as he embarks on his pursuit of higher education.”

Each applicant was asked to submit an essay that addressed the following question in no more than 1,500 words:

Since the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791, the 7^th Amendment Right to Trial by Jury has been the cornerstone of the Civil Justice System. And yet, in the two-plus centuries since, the Right to Trial by Jury has been under near-constant assault. In your opinion, what role does the 7^th Amendment play in the 21^st Century, and why do you believe that it is important to safeguard this Right?

To view James’ 7^th Amendment Scholarship Essay, In Defense of the 7^th Amendment, in its entirety, please visit: www.gtla.org/docDownload/669877.

Applications for the GTLA 7^th Amendment Scholarship Essay Competition were reviewed by the Scholarship Subcommittee of the GTLA Communications Committee, which consisted of GTLA leadership, members and staff. Applicants for the scholarship were judged based on the clarity, depth and originality of their thoughts on the assigned topic. The Grand Prize Scholarship is an award of $1,000 towards the winner’s college education.

James will attend Fordham University in New York, NY this fall, where he will be studying History.

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