06.09.2025Essay Competition II: Why do we need criminal trials?

The Criminal Law Group is hosting an essay competition on the topic: Why do we need 
criminal trials?

• Deadline 31.03.2026, 23.59
• Email to lst.summers@ius.uzh.ch
• Length 2'000 words (max)
• Languages EN / DE / FR
• Judge Tim Eicke (Former Judge at the European Court of Human Rights)
• Prize 1'000 CHF
• Eligible all students matriculated at a Swiss university

When engaging with this question, entrants are encouraged to think broadly and creatively. You might explore, for example, how abbreviated proceedings balance the drive for efficiency against the demands of procedural fairness. 

Entrants may also wish to approach the question from the perspective of a legal historian. How have criminal trials shaped democracy—through the Nuremberg Trials, or the establishment of international criminal courts to end impunity?

We also welcome essays that adopt a more imaginative or abstract approach. What if guilt could be predicted with almost absolute certainty—would trials still be necessary? What might a world without criminal trials look like—would disputes be settled through trial by combat, or even vigilante justice?

These suggestions are intended merely as starting points and should not be regarded as prescriptive. The scope of the question is deliberately broad, so entrants are free to take their essays in any direction they choose.

1. The competition is open to all students in any discipline matriculated at a Swiss university.
2. Winners of previous essay competitions organised by the Criminal Law Group may not participate in this competition.
3. Submissions should be no longer than 2000 words, including footnotes and references. Essays that exceed this word limit will not be considered.
4. Deadline for submissions is 23.59, 31.03.2026. Essays must be submitted by email to lst.summers@ius.uzh.ch in Microsoft Word format, citing 'Essay Competition' in the subject line.
5. When submitting your essay, please include your name, address, contact telephone number and details of the university that you belong to in the covering email. Please do not include this or any other identifying information in the essay itself.
6. The essay must be the sole creation and original work of the entrant. Any form of plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.
7. Alongside your submission, please complete and return the Declaration (DOCX, 15 KB). Submissions made without the Declaration will not be considered.
8. Only one entry per person will be allowed.
9. The essay must not have been submitted to any other essay competition.
10. Essays will be judged by Tim Eicke (Former Judge of the European Court of Human Rights).
11. The winner will be selected in May 2026 and will be notified no later than June 2026.
12. The winner will be awarded CHF 1'000.
13. We will inform all entrants of whether they have been successful or unsuccessful. We do not otherwise have capacity to provide feedback on individual entries.
14. For any questions, please contact lst.summers@ius.uzh.ch.