NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Federal Courts Have an Obligation to Decide Cases.

One of the most fundamental obligations of the federal courts is to decide the cases before them. This is implied from Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, which provides that the court’s judicial power extends to cases and controversies. As one court stated: “a federal judge has a duty to sit where not disqualified which is equally as strong as the duty to not sit where disqualified.” Laird v. Tatum, 409 U.S. 824, 837 (1972) (Mem. of Rehnquist, J.) (collecting cases).

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Tuesday, September 17, 2024, marks the 237th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. The United States Constitution is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. It has served our nation and its people well over the past two centuries, even through a long and terrible civil war. And although it has served us well, like all human creations, it is not a perfect document. On the occasion of its anniversary, we think it helpful to briefly discuss some of the current sentiment for changing or amending the Constitution.

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The Sixth Circuit Student Essay Contest was open to high school students (grades 9–12) enrolled in public, private, parochial, and charter schools and home-schooled students of equivalent grade status in the four states that comprise the Sixth Circuit (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee).

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In just a few short weeks we will elect from among us those people we will place in positions of authority over us.  This is a civic tradition we have faithfully repeated for almost two hundred fifty years.  Regardless of whom we elect, and regardless of whether we supported or opposed them, we rely on them to follow the rule of law.

THE RULE OF LAW.

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Imagine that when you were in high school you had the chance to attend a two-week summer camp focused on an important and historic United States Supreme Court case that originated in your hometown.  Imagine that someone from the Supreme Court Historical Society traveled from Washington to conduct the camp.  Imagine that prominent speakers shared their expertise with you and gave you a chance to ask questions and interact with them. Imagine that you could visit the actual sites where events in the case took place.  And imagine that prominent scholars would dissect Supreme Court opinions and other original sources with you. 

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On July 8 and 9, 2024, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio held, in the Dayton seat of court, its first-ever civics court camp for high school students - what the court calls the “Dayton Student Justice Institute.”

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Earlier this week, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio held its first-ever Teachers’ Institute civics education program in the Dayton seat of court. Teachers from throughout the Dayton community spent two days learning about criminal cases (on Day 1) and civil cases (on Day 2).  

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On June 26, 2024, Judge Michael Newman and Magistrate Judge Caroline Gentry met with law student externs - from the U.S. District Court and from Legal Aid of Western Ohio - as part of the Southern District of Ohio’s continuing civics education outreach efforts.

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In view of the constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens. There is no caste here. Our constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law.  The humblest is the peer of the most powerful.  The law regards man as man, and takes no account of his surroundings or of his color when his civil rights as guaranteed by the supreme law of the land are involved.

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Juror Appreciation Week is observed in the month of May. Jury service is among the nation’s most important civic duties, and the people who serve on juries certainly deserve appreciation for their service to our country.

The founders feared governmental tyranny, so they built juries into our legal system. They believed certain functions were simply too important to be left to government officials acting alone. For this reason, prosecutors do not have the power to bring indictments requiring those under investigation to stand trial for felony criminal offenses; rather, only ordinary citizens called together into grand juries can bring indictments. Likewise, it is not judges, but ordinary citizens called together into trial juries, who decide guilt or innocence in criminal trials or liability and damages in civil trials where there are disputes about the facts.

Most of us have some idea what jurors do after they arrive in a courthouse. But what is the process to get there? And who among us is legally qualified to serve? 

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