NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

On Monday, July 7, 2025, the Bankruptcy Court in Dayton hosted a group of high school students participating in the Law & Leadership Institute to discuss the bankruptcy system and becoming a bankruptcy judge.  Also participating were former Bankruptcy Judge Guy Humphrey (now Master Docent of historic courthouse tours, which he gave afterward), Chapter 13 Trustee John Jansing, Chapter 13 Trustee’s Counsel Erin Renneker, Attorney Walter Reynolds (Porter Wright), and Kelly Johnson (Coolidge Wall).

Here’s a photo from our Dayton Civics Court Camp – yesterday, day one – the criminal day. Today is the civil day. It was a very successful undertaking and I was honored to be part of it!

This October and November, judges in Dayton are meeting with Dayton Public School students. Here, Magistrate Judge Michael Newman poses with students from Thurgood Marshall School.

A group of 13 people made up of 7 Timorese judges, 3 Timorese prosecutors, and 2 US Embassy personnel visited the Eastern District of Tennessee. The program was organized by the U.S. Department of Justice and AUSA David Lewen who is serving as a Resident Legal Advisor for 14 months in Timor-Leste. The group’s visit included a tour of the Howard H. Baker Jr Federal Courthouse where they were provided lunch with the judges and were provided informative presentations from each agency concerning their role in the judiciary. The group also visited the local State Courts and U.T. College of Law. The group gifted all the presenters with a scarf (as reflected in one of the pictures) which has the name of their country and the colors of their flag.

Chief Judge Reeves hosted the Criminal Practice Class and professor, Melanie Reid, at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Federal Courthouse for Moot Court on February 13, 2020. The students presented a change of plea, an argument of a motion for judgment of acquittal, a 924 (c) motion argument, and argument of a Rule 29 motion in a drug conspiracy trial.

On May 22, 2019, Judge Curtis L. Collier spoke with a group of 8th grade students from The McCallie School which is a boys college-preparatory school located in Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga.  The students visited the courthouse to study the mural, Allegory of Chattanooga.  Judge Collier also spoke with two additional groups from McCallie later in the week on Thursday and Friday.  The total number of students visiting the Court to learn about the history of this piece of artwork was approximately 90 students.  This is the third year that the 8th grade students of McCallie School have made it a part of their curriculum to come study this work of art.  Judge Collier also spoke to the students about the book, Contempt of Court.  The students had read this book earlier in the school year.

This October and November, judges in Dayton are meeting with Dayton Public School students. Here, Magistrate Judge Michael Newman and Senior District Judge Walter H. Rice pose with DPS students from Belmont High School.

On April 1, 2019, U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Knoxville hosted a group of students from South Doyle High School and Fulton High School who participated in the all-day Justice For All program. A total of 26 students and chaperones/teachers participated in the event which included a morning panel discussion by local attorneys, law students and law school deans. The panelist each share their backgrounds and what led them to a career in law. The panelist responded to questions and shared with the students that having a difficult childhood or not having financial support is not a deterrent to pursuing whatever dreams you may have for your future. The students also participated in a tour of the courthouse and history museum, participated in a mock trial, participated in a panel discussion with some of the judges, and enjoyed lunch with the judges and other panel participants.

On July 9, 2019, Judge Collier spoke to approximately forty youth summer campers from Olivet Baptist Church at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga. The campers’ ages ranged from 10 to 18 years-old. Judge Collier spoke to the campers about the state and federal judicial system, his professional journey to the bench, and his current responsibilities as a District Court Judge in Tennessee’s Eastern District. During a Q&A session, Judge Collier answered questions about criminal sentencing in federal courts, his career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, as well as questions about his family and childhood in Marianna, Arkansas. Some of the younger campers were especially interested in how often Judge Collier uses his gavel (never) and why judges wear black robes (a carryover from British court dress). Afterwards, the campers walked over to the courthouse for a tour of the buildings and courtroom. 

On October 19, 2018, students from Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio near Dayton visited the Federal Courthouse for a morning court camp to hear from the federal judges and meet court personnel. Some of the students pose with Judge Michael Newman, his career law clerk Michael Rhinehart and term law clerk Taylor Gamm, and two representatives from the Dayton Bar Association who attended the event – Executive Director Sally Dunker and Steven Tyler Wright.