NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

A "Nation of Immigrants": Judge Preston Deavers Presides Over Final Naturalization Ceremony

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a courtroom filled with emotion and a sense of pride, United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers presided over her final naturalization ceremony on February 26, 2026.

Marking the end of a 16-year career on the federal bench, Judge Preston Deavers welcomed more than 50 new Americans. To mark the occasion, she invited participants of EveryBody Works—a transition program that blends secondary education and vocational training for individuals with disabilities—to witness the proceedings from the jury box.

Read the full article on the Southern District of Ohio website.

WYSO attended a citizen naturalization ceremony held at Archbishop Alter High School. The ceremonies are sometimes held outside of the courthouse to show how important the occasion is for these new Americans.

Read the full article at WYSO.org.

February is Black History Month. In the past, in tribute to Black History Month, we have written on significant historical figures in the federal judiciary or important court cases that contributed to our understanding of Black History. This year, we will take a different tack. We will highlight the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and its role in the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s.

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One of the ways in which the courts reinforce public confidence in the judiciary and the rule of law is judicial restraint. Judicial restraint calls for modesty in judges’ rulings, language, temperament, and official behavior. It requires the exercise of great discipline on the part of the judge.

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Federal judges understandably receive the most public attention in carrying out the judiciary’s responsibility of upholding the rule of law, interpreting the Constitution, and striving to see that justice is done. But for judges to meet this responsibility, the assistance of many others is necessary. For the most part, these are people who quietly do essential work behind the scenes. Among these unsung workers are the members of the United States Marshals Service.

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Federal judges are drawn from the ranks of experienced lawyers with diverse personal and professional backgrounds. They bring to the bench their professional training and experience, personal history, and lived experiences. As a result of these experiences, they form certain beliefs and sympathies and develop certain preferences and biases. But, as judges, they must put aside these beliefs, sympathies, preferences, and biases if they conflict with their obligation to apply the law fairly and impartially.

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Two closely related words that animated the call for independence from Great Britian were liberty and freedom.  Those two words called not only for independence from the then-governing power but also for individual liberty and freedom for the colonists.  And by that, they meant the liberty and freedom to live their lives without undue government intrusion or interference. 

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The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio presided over a naturalization ceremony on Sept. 18, 2025, where 20 people from 14 countries became United States citizens.

United States District Court Judge Michael J. Newman presided over the ceremony while Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Elizabeth A.  Ellis, and retired Ohio Second District Court of Appeals Judge Mary E. Donovan also attended and spoke. 

Read the full article on the Southern District of Ohio website.

Each September 17, our nation pauses to recognize Constitution Day, commemorating the signing of the United States Constitution in 1787.  It is a day not just for lawyers, judges, or politicians–it is a day for all citizens.  The beginning of the Constitution affirms this.  The first three words of the Constitution read, “We the People.”  Those three words are not ceremonial, nor put there as mere place holders.  They are at the very heart of the representative republic established by the Constitution.  The Constitution is a document that allows the majority in “We the People” to govern, while also protecting the rights of the minority. 

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Ninety-seven people from 42 countries were sworn in as new citizens on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Miami University in celebration of Constitution Day.

The ceremony started with the singing of the national anthem and God Bless America by the Miami University Men’s Glee Club. 

Read the full article on the Southern District of Ohio website.