University of Denver 2025 Leonard v.B. Sutton International Law Essay Competition Winner Announced

Denver, CO — May 29, 2025 — Chloe Henry, a second-year law student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, has been named the winner of the prestigious Leonard v.B. Sutton International Law Essay Competition.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of contributors, Henry impressed a panel of judges comprised of international legal scholars and practitioners with her essay “The Use of International Trade & Enforcement Mechanisms as Viable Vehicles to Further Combat Forced Labor Against Uyghurs in China.” The judges praised her work for its originality, rigorous research, and clarity of style.

Henry’s winning essay addresses a critical and timely issue. Her analysis aligns with investigative reporting by The New York Times, which published an article on May 29, 2025, titled “Far From Home: Uyghur Workers in Factories Supplying Global Brands.” The article is accompanied by a powerful video journal exploring the conditions and coercion faced by Uyghur laborers. Henry’s essay will be published in an upcoming volume of the Denver Journal of International Law & Policy, and she will have the opportunity to further her studies at the renowned Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands this summer.

Now in its 56th year, the Sutton Essay Competition was established by Leonard v.B. Sutton, JD’41, a former Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court and a noted international legal scholar. The award encourages excellence in legal scholarship and supports students committed to advancing the field of international law.

For more information on the Sutton Essay Competition or to view past recipients, visit the Nanda Center online.