2L Wins FBA Essay Competition, Presents at National Meeting

2L Mariah Hammond recently travelled to Richmond, Virginia, to attend and present at the Federal Bar Association's Annual Meeting and Convention. 

Mariah won first place in the FBA's 2026 Honorable Constance Baker Motley Young Professional Essay Competition. The competition honors Judge Motley’s legacy and challenges law students and young federal practitioners to consider how the legal profession can promote and sustain diversity, equity, and inclusion in federal practice. The competition is named after Judge Baker Motley, the first African American woman appointed to the United States federal judiciary and the first woman judge in the Southern District of New York.

"This honor is especially meaningful because Judge Constance Baker Motley’s legacy reflects the kind of lawyer and leader I hope to become," Mariah said. "As a trailblazing civil rights attorney and federal judge, she not only broke barriers but also created opportunities for generations to follow."

This year’s prompt asked participants to identify concrete strategies for continuing Judge Motley’s legacy by removing barriers to entry and advancement, expanding mentorship opportunities, increasing representation, and fostering meaningful inclusion within the legal profession.

"Presenting my work was an incredible milestone, but one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was the opportunity to connect with judges, attorneys, and leaders in federal practice from across the country," Mariah said. "Through panels, presentations, and conversations, I gained a deeper appreciation for the reach of the FBA and the many opportunities it offers for mentorship, leadership, and service."

Mariah is an Ignatian Law Scholar, currently serves as the president of the College of Law's A.P. Tureaud Chapter of the Black Law Students Association, and is a member of the Loyola University Advocacy Center's Alternative Dispute Resolution program.