Courtroom Artist Contest

Encourage your high school students to participate in the Foundation’s 2024-2025 Courtroom Artist Contest, which is held in conjunction with the New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition. This competition gives creative students an opportunity to stretch their artistic muscles while sketching their school’s mock trial team in action.

The New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s High School Mock Trial Competitions, which include the Courtroom Artist and Courtroom News Reporter contests, provide an interactive educational experience that enhances students’ writing, speaking and analytical skills as they learn about the justice system. Competing in the NJSBF Courtroom Artist Competition is free and open to students in public, private, charter and home schools in New Jersey.

Please contact Sheila Boro, Director of Mock Trial Programs, at sboro@njsbf.org with any questions.

Courtroom Artist Workshop for Teachers ~ Oct. 28

Learn how to prepare your student(s) for the 2025-2026 Courtroom Artist Competition. How do you capture courtroom drama when no cameras are allowed? Acclaimed Courtroom Illustrator Elizabeth Williams, who has covered many high-profile court cases throughout her career, will explain. Afterwards, you will have an opportunity to watch students present this year’s criminal case on the dangerous practice of “swatting,” the false report of emergencies to law enforcement.

NOTE: If you are a mock trial team coach, please do not register for this workshop. You should register for the coaches’ session HERE. Consider asking your school’s art teacher(s) to attend this workshop.

Tuesday Oct. 28
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Continental breakfast and lunch included
New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick
Earn 3.5 PD Credits

Courtroom Artist Competition Registration

Submit the Courtroom Artist Competition Registration Form by Oct. 29 2025
Submit the Code of Conduct by December 2
Submit sketches/drawings within 24 hours after a county competition

Courtroom Artist Competition Registration Form

Courtroom Artist Contest Rules

Courtroom Artist Code of Conduct

Courtroom Artist Submission Form

More about Elizabeth Williams

Ms. Williams is an illustrator, courtroom artist and author. Her work has appeared on the cover of major news publications including USA Today, the New York times and The Wallstreet Journal. She is co-author of The Illustrated Courtroom: 50 Years of Court Art, a history of American courtroom sketch artistry. For more about Elizabeth Williams click here.

Congratulations to the 2025 Winners!

This year, 23 schools joined the competition. The winning artwork was selected from 106 entries. Thank you to all of the artistically talented students who participated in this year’s contest.