Digital Justice Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Jonathan Jay Kirschner
Introduction
Technology increasingly shapes the criminal justice system — from social media content used as evidence to AI assisting forensic interpretation. To encourage informed discussion about how law and policy should respond, Jonathan Jay Kirschner, Esq., & Associates, LLC is launching the 2026 Digital Justice Scholarship.
Award
One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student who thoughtfully examines the intersection of technology and justice and proposes practical ways to protect fairness and accountability as digital tools are used in investigations and courtrooms.
Who may apply
- Open to current high school seniors, students in vocational programs, undergraduate students, and graduate students.
- Applicants must be legal U.S. residents living in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year post-secondary institution.
- Employees of Jonathan Jay Kirschner, Esq., & Associates, LLC, their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, and spouses), and anyone living in the same household (related or not) are ineligible.
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing.
Application requirements
Applicants must submit all of the following:
1. Essay — A written response of no more than 750 words addressing the prompt below. All essays will be checked for originality; submissions that include AI-generated content will be disqualified.
2. Professional résumé — Detailing academic achievements, work experience, internships, volunteer activities, and relevant extracurriculars.
3. Transcript — A current transcript. College freshmen, graduate students, or transfer students may provide an unofficial transcript from their current institution along with the most recent official transcript from their prior school. High school applicants may submit proof of acceptance to their post-secondary program.
Essay prompt (750 words max)
Advances in technology — from social networks to artificial intelligence — are increasingly influencing the criminal justice process. Describe two or three specific changes that would help preserve fairness when digital evidence, surveillance, or forensic technologies are relied upon in trials. Should laws or legal standards evolve to keep pace with these innovations? If so, explain how.
Deadline
Complete applications must be received by July 30, 2026.
We welcome submissions from students interested in law, ethics, privacy, or technology who want to contribute to the conversation about balancing innovation and justice.