American Constitution Society Announces Winners of 2026 Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nancy Rodriguez, [email protected]

Washington, D.C. - The American Constitution Society (ACS) is pleased to announce the lawyer and law student winners of the 2026 Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law.

This year's lawyer winners are Leah Litman, a Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School; Melissa Murray, the Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law at the University of New York Law School; and Kate Shaw, a Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

This year's law student winner is Rachael Totz, a recent JD/MBE graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

The Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law honors Judge Cudahy's legacy in the fields of regulatory and administrative law. His significant contributions reflected his keen understanding of legal doctrine, deep insight into the institutional forces that determine how doctrine is implemented, and appreciation of the public impact of doctrinal and institutional choices, including the consequences for fundamental values such as fairness, participation, and transparency. The award aims to encourage and reward these qualities in the scholarship of others.

Over the course of President Trump's second term, observers have widely noted how the current administration has not only consolidated executive power but also encroached upon Congressional powers. However, little discussion has centered around the Trump Administration's efforts to seize judicial power. In Unsettling the Presidency, Litman, Murray and Shaw explore how Trump has utilized the powers of the courts to fashion the presidency into an office where "all constitutional power resides." Litman, Murray and Shaw describe how Trump has used both litigation and "ersatz legal processes" to silence critics and further boost executive power.

In Redefining Program Integrity: Protecting Consumers and Systems in the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces, Totz dives into unauthorized plan switches and enrollments, common problems plaguing Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, which have come at a high price for consumers. These unauthorized switches and enrollments suggest deep failures in the system, particularly in misconceptions related to health benefit program integrity. Totz argues that ACA marketplaces must be assessed through a "consumer protection lens," connecting consumers to affordable insurance while also ensuring that their rights are protected.

The winners will receive a cash prize of $1,500. They will also be recognized at the ACS 2026 National Convention Series on June 18.

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AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY The American Constitution Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan legal organization. Through a diverse nationwide network of progressive lawyers, law students, judges, scholars, advocates, and many others, our mission is to support and advocate for laws and legal systems that redress the founding failures of our Constitution, strengthen our democratic legitimacy, uphold the rule of law, and realize the promise of equality for all, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and other historically excluded communities. For more information, visit us at https://www.acslaw.org.