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The Harlan Institute Championship Round At The National Archives

High school students presented arguments about whether to declare independence in the presence of the Declaration of Independence.

Josh Blackman | 5.13.2026 3:15 PM

The Harlan Institute has completed the Fourteenth Annual Virtual Supreme Court Competition. This year, in honor of America's 250th Anniversary, the competition presented the case of Patriots v. Loyalists. This competition offered teams of two high school students the opportunity to research American history, write persuasive appellate briefs, argue against other students through video chats, and try to persuade a panel of esteemed attorneys during oral argument that the Declaration should be signed.

On April 7, we held the Final Four round at the Georgetown Supreme Court Institute. Presiding were........

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