Tuesday, September 10, 2019

A Prize on CT Legal History

[Posted on behalf of the Connecticut Supreme Court Historical Society.  Dan Ernst]

 Beginning in Spring 2020, the Connecticut Supreme Court Historical Society will institute an annual Christopher Collier Prize with a $1,000 award to historians, legal scholars, political scientists or others who have contributed an important work or works to advance the study of American legal and constitutional history that has Connecticut connections. The prize is named in honor of former Connecticut State Historian, University of Connecticut history professor, Connecticut Supreme Court Historical Society vice president and author Christopher Collier, whose research, writing and editing over a long career broadened knowledge of the founding of American constitutional government, Connecticut's role in the creation of the U.S. constitutional system, and the development of Connecticut's own constitutional and legal order. The prize will recognize and encourage scholars whose publications, teaching and/or public exhibits have furthered American and Connecticut legal and constitutional history in Professor Collier's prolific and innovative spirit. The society will consider any academic or independent historians, political scientists, law professors, judges, lawyers, students and others whose work (including work in progress) may be worthy of this prize.

For the 2020 award, the society invites nominations to be submitted to the society's Collier Prize Committee by December 1, 2019. Nominations, which should be no more than 1,000 words, should identify the nominee's current employment (if applicable) or background, describe the work that he or she is presently working on and/or has recently contributed to the study of American legal-constitutional history and its Connecticut connections, and briefly explain why the nominee deserves the prize. Self-nominations are permitted and should include curriculum vitae or a resume covering the self-nominee's work. The Collier Prize Committee may, in its discretion, request additional information as part of its evaluation process. The society will award the prize and its $1,000 stipend at its spring 2020 annual meeting, which the society expects that the recipient will attend.

The Collier Prize Committee prefers that nominations be submitted electronically to the Collier Prize Committee c/o Attorney Jeffrey J. White, jwhite@rc.com, Robinson & Cole LLP, 280 Trumbull Street, Hartford Connecticut 06103 no later than December 1, 2019. Nominations will be accepted by mail if electronic transmittal is not practical.