WIN: The Judges Matter prize in excellent writing on the judiciary 2025

WIN PRIZES VALUED AT R30 000!

Judges Matter is proud to present the annual prize for excellent essays written about the judiciary. Launched in 2021, the aim of the prize is to encourage critical thinking and academic engagement with issues affecting the judiciary in South Africa.

Topic: Court in the Crossfire: Judicial Independence amidst Political Turmoil

The topic is focused on how the judiciary can maintain its independence in trying political times where judiciaries around the world are being challenged by strong political movements.

While all essays should maintain focus on the South African judiciary, comparative discussions are encouraged. Only individually-authored essays are accepted.

The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Student Prizes are valued at up to R15 000 in cash, each.

COMPETITION RULES

1. Only individually authored entries will be considered (no co-authored essays are allowed).
2. Entries must be submitted in English.
3. Essays must be written in the house style of the South African Law Journal.
4. Essays must be submitted in both pdf and Word versions.
5. Entrants must specify their year of study along with proof of registration in their submission.
6. Plagiarised essays will be automatically disqualified, and Judges Matter may report the entrant to their academic institution for further action.
7. The adjudication panel’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
8. Judges Matter reserves the right not to award the prize if, in consultation with the adjudication panel, it is determined that entries are not of a suitable standard.
9. Judges Matter reserves the right to publish the winning essays on its website, social media pages and related media (including mainstream media publications and the UCT and DGRU websites).
10. Winners must accept the prize in writing and submit the necessary information to facilitate the awarding of the prize.
11. Winners will be invited to attend the prize-giving ceremony, which will take place in Cape Town. Winners that are unable to attend in-person will be invited to attend via Zoom.

FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PRIZE:

• The word limit is 3 500 words – excluding footnotes.
• Only students pursuing their LLB studies or completing a combined stream degree that includes law (e.g. BCom Law, BA Law) at a registered university in South Africa are eligible.
• Students may be in any year of study but must be registered students at the time of submission of the entry.

FOR THE POSTGRADUATE STUDENT PRIZE:

• The word limit is 4 000 words – excluding footnotes.
• Only students pursuing their LLM, Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship or PhD in Law at a registered university in South Africa are eligible.
• Students may be in any year of their postgraduate studies but must be registered students at the time of submission of the entry.

DOWNLOAD THE SALJ STYLE GUIDE

DOWNLOAD THE UCT STYLE AND AUTHOR GUIDE

HOW TO ENTER

Entries must be sent to jmessay@uct.ac.za and copy jenna.maujean@uct.ac.za
Queries may be sent to Jenna Maujean: jenna.maujean@uct.ac.za
Closing date: Monday, 28 July 2025 at 5pm.

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