Mission
“Community outreach and civic education initiatives are among my top priorities.”
Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson
To empower all New Yorkers to participate in their government and community life by facilitating civic learning and literacy through education, engagement, and outreach.
What's New
This year, for the first time, the United Court System (UCS) will take part in Civic Learning Week - Monday, March 10 through Friday, March 14 - a yearly non-partisan effort bringing together educators, students, policymakers, leaders and others to promote civic education to sustain and strengthen our democracy.
On behalf of the UCS, I am pleased and excited to join other entities and organizations across the country in this crucial national endeavor and encourage judicial districts statewide to plan events and activities around this year's theme, Civic Learning: Many Voices, One Nation.
Civic Learning Week reminds us of our role as part of a self-governing society, as well as the importance of elevating civic literacy which, essential for empowered citizenship, is a top-most priority of the Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson and the UCS judicial leadership team.
So, let's get started as we work to support and energize the movement for high-quality civic education, striving to make civic learning and engagement lifelong goal!
To help kick off your Civic Learning Week program planning, please see our Civic Learning Toolkit for a list of age-appropriate activity/event ideas and resources. I welcome you to contact me for further information or assistance at [email protected].
In celebration of Constitution Day, the New York State Unified Court System announced the inaugural Constitution Day Essay Contest. The New York State Unified Court System invited all high school students to submit essays that discuss this year’s theme: The Role of the U.S. Constitution in Promoting Civic Engagement: Ensuring a Thriving Democracy. The goal of this contest was to motivate students to thoughtfully read and explore the United States Constitution to promote active engagement in the democratic process. Winners were announced on February 14, 2025.
Constitution Day, September 17th
I am pleased to report that the New York State Unified Court System’s first-ever Constitution Day Essay Contest, open to high schoolers statewide and launched on September 17, 2024—the very date of the signing of the United States Constitution in 1787—was a great success.
The contest asked students to explore how a deep understanding of civic duties and constitutional rights empowers them to effect meaningful change in society.
We were encouraged both by the high number and quality of submissions, receiving hundreds of insightful essays from high school students around the State, including 67 from Thomas A. Edison CTE High School (four honorable mentions), 34 from Edmeston High School (one honorable mention), and 34 from Tottenville High School (one honorable mention).
Each submission was thoughtfully reviewed by our essay judging committee which, along with me, included representatives from the many participating bar associations statewide as well as the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. I couldn’t be more excited by the enthusiastic response to our inaugural Constitution Day Essay Contest nor prouder to announce this year’s first, second and third-place winners and honorable mentions.
Essays: First Place - Jenny Huang, Second Place - Ryan Vangelder, Third Place - Jessica Schmidt
Sincerely,
Zenith T. Taylor, Esq.
Civic Learning
We offer comprehensive educational programs and resources that delve into the intricacies of the New York legal system and the importance of civic responsibilities. These programs are designed to empower both students and adults by equipping them with the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively navigate the court system and actively participate in their government.