Symone Gibbs ‘26L Wins 2025 Halper Award Gibbs received the award for her article examining pre-trial solitary confinement.

By Law Communications
April 4, 2025

Symone Gibbs, a member of the Law Class of 2026, has received the 2025 Halper Award for her note written for the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice (JCRSJ). Gibbs is from Smithfield, Virginia, and is a 2023 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Gibbs’ note is titled “Imprisoned Without a Verdict: The Constitutional Crisis of Pre-Trial Solitary Confinement.” It was selected by the editorial board of the JCRSJ as the best article submitted for publication by the Journal’s staff writers. The note will be published in Volume 32.

Gibbs’ note offers a powerful and timely critique of the widespread yet largely overlooked use of solitary confinement on individuals awaiting trial—people who, under the law, are presumed innocent. Through a rigorous analysis of prevailing legal standards, Gibbs contends that the current legal framework fails to meaningfully safeguard the constitutional rights and psychological well-being of pre-trial detainees. By weaving together constitutional law, empirical data, and interdisciplinary research from psychology and sociology, the article exposes the deeply damaging and often irreversible effects of isolation—particularly for individuals with mental health vulnerabilities and marginalized communities. Ultimately, Gibbs proposes a reform-centered framework grounded in procedural due process and a reimagining of pre-trial detention practices that prioritize human dignity and constitutional accountability.

“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my note advisor, Professor Alex Klein, whose generous guidance, thoughtful feedback, and unwavering support have been invaluable in shaping this work,” said Gibbs. “I also offer heartfelt thanks to my family, whose unconditional love, constant encouragement, and deep belief in my vision have been the heart and soul of this achievement. Their support has not only fueled my determination but has also inspired me to advocate for justice with compassion and conviction.”

During the seventeen years that she taught at Washington and Lee University School of Law, Professor Louise A. Halper was an advocate for minority viewpoints on campus. She founded and served as faculty advisor to the Race and Ethnic Ancestry Law Digest, which evolved into the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice. Both inside and outside the classroom, she encouraged students, whatever their politics or beliefs, to speak their minds about today’s most complicated social problems. She also urged students, via their written work, to identify and advocate for new ideas, solutions, or paths towards making the world a more just society for all individuals.

Created after Professor Halper’s unexpected passing in June 2008, the annual Louise A. Halper Award seeks to honor her efforts as an advocate, educator, mentor, colleague, and friend. Each spring, the Award is presented to the second-year law student who is judged to have submitted the best note for publication in the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice. Members of the Journal’s Editorial Board determine the winner.

If you know a W&L student who has done great, accolade-worthy things, tell us about them! Nominate them for an accolade.