Top Videos Bring the First and Fourth Amendments to Life Through Creative, Legally Grounded Storytelling
Washington D.C. — Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), in partnership with Tidal Water Consulting, today announced the winners of the inaugural Rights in Reel Time Challenge, a national competition inviting law students to translate constitutional rights into compelling short-form videos for the public.
After a blind review process conducted by a distinguished panel of legal experts, journalists, and educators, cash prizes of $3,000 (First Place), $1,250 (Second Place), and $750 (Third Place) were awarded to three student submissions selected for excellence in constitutional grounding, legal accuracy, clarity, and creativity.
First Place
William Joseph Haydon, a third-year law student at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, earned first place for a standout video examining the First and Fourth Amendments through an unexpected — and unforgettable — format: a rap battle between a detective and a constitutionally savvy citizen.
His video blends sharp legal analysis with humor and originality, demonstrating how constitutional doctrine governs both government authority and individual rights without oversimplifying the law.
Second Place
Ricardo Martinez, a second-year law student at UC Davis School of Law, was awarded second place for a clear and timely explanation of how the Fourth and Fifth Amendments limit government power and protect due process, emphasizing that these constitutional guarantees apply to everyone, not only citizens.
Judges praised the submission for its clarity, legal accuracy, and relevance — especially in timely conversations about immigration enforcement and federal authority.
Third Place
Zion Lampley, a second-year law student at Stetson University College of Law, received third place for a video exploring how the Fourth Amendment applies to modern technology, particularly privacy protections related to cell phones and digital data. Grounded in established precedent, including Riley v. California, the video excels at translating constitutional doctrine into real-world understanding for a general audience.
“Each of these winning videos reflects what this challenge set out to do: make constitutional rights understandable, accurate, and relevant to everyday life. At a time when public understanding of the rule of law is more important than ever, these students are stepping up as educators and civic leaders.”
The Rights in Reel Time Challenge is a nonpartisan national initiative designed to strengthen public understanding of the Constitution through short-form storytelling. The contest invited law students to create 60–90 second videos focused on civil liberties protected by the Bill of Rights, with particular emphasis on the First and Fourth Amendments.
Entries were evaluated by a judging panel featuring leading voices in law and media, including Dahlia Lithwick, Lisa Graves, Allison Gill, Adam Klasfeld, Rachel Cohen, Hadiyah Cummings, Katherine Stewart, and Alicia Luncheon. Judges scored submissions based on constitutional grounding, factual accuracy, educational clarity, creativity, and overall quality. The Challenge was co-sponsored by Alliance for Justice, the American Constitution Society, and the Task Force for American Democracy.
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Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) is a nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of 125,000 lawyers, law students, and advocates in the fight for justice. We identify where lawyers can make the greatest impact and mobilize them to defend democracy and the rule of law, protect civil and human rights, and advance environmental justice through coordinated legal action and advocacy efforts that create meaningful change for all Americans.
Tidal Water Consulting strengthens community through Restorative Justice practices and development of civic engagement programs and curricula.