On March 4, 2025, Holland & Knight partner Andrew Lowenstein traveled from West Palm Beach, Florida to Dayton to meet with federal judges from both Dayton and Columbus - along with bar leaders from the Dayton Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association Dayton chapter - to teach them how to do the “Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions” civics scenario utilized by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts in Washington, D.C. Thereafter, the judges, law clerks and bar leaders engaged in a three- hour civics presentation and oral argument session by the students with high school students from the Dayton STEM School.

Federal judges Michael Newman, Caroline Gentry and Peter Silvain, Jr. pose with federal court law clerks helping to organize the civics program along with University of Dayton School of Law professor Shea Dailey, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jade Smarda, and Federal Bar Association Dayton chapter president Mike Scarpelli.

Pictured here is Dayton Bar Association President, Judge Michael Newman; United States Magistrate Judge Peter Silvain, Jr.; United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Deavers from Columbus, Ohio; Andrew Loewenstein; and DBA executive Director, Jennifer Otchy.

The Dayton STEM School students, federal judges, federal court law clerks and externs, and Andrew Lowenstein all pose together following the students’ oral argument and civics presentation.

On March 11, Judge Parker from the Montgomery County, Ohio Common Pleas Court, and Judge Newman from the U.S. District Court in Dayton, talked to two high school civics classes at Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City, Ohio.  The judges discussed judicial elections (Judge Parker) and appointment (Judge Newman); difficult trials; life as a lawyer and judge; and recusal.

Magistrate Judge Caroline Gentry and Judge Michael Newman welcomed Girl Scouts, from the Girls Scouts of Western Ohio, to learn about the Third Branch; meet judges, law clerks, and court staff; witness a naturalization ceremony; and attend a financial literacy program with newly-installed Bankruptcy Judge, the Hon. Tyson Crist.  Girl Scouts travelled from Cincinnati and Toledo, Ohio - along with Dayton-based Girl Scouts - to attend and participate in this civics education event.

On June 25, 2025, the Eastern District of Kentucky hosted a contingent of Laurel County students in London, KY.  The students toured the courthouse, heard from the Chief Probation Officer, visited the US Marshals, and explored the courtroom space.

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!

On July 20 and 21, 2026, 43 high school students from Ohio’s Miami Valley attended the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio’s third annual Dayton Student Justice Institute (DSJI).  The DSJI is a civics court seminar where students are immersed in criminal and civil law, constitutional issues, and instructed in the civility practiced in federal courts nationally.  This year, students heard presentations from United States District and Magistrate Judges, the Clerk of Court, federal prosecutors and public defenders (including the United States Attorney and the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Ohio), federal agents, U.S. Deputy Marshals, Pretrial Services Officers, and faculty and the Dean of the University of Dayton School of Law.

“The Dayton Student Justice Institute is one of the very best outreach programs our District Court offers,” United States District Judge Michael J. Newman said.  “We teach the high school students not only about the workings of civil and criminal cases but also about the importance of civility and constitutional concepts such as due process.”

During the first day, where presentations were focused on criminal law, the students learned about federal criminal prosecution and defense, various tools of federal criminal investigations, arrests and the role of the United States Marshals Service, Fourth Amendment rights, the role of Pretrial Services and the process of drafting a Pretrial Services Report (including observing a mock interview), preliminary criminal proceedings (including observing a mock initial appearance, arraignment and detention hearing), and the factors that can influence whether a case ends in a plea agreement or a trial, as well as sentencing considerations. 

The second day focused primarily on civil law and procedure. The presenters discussed various pathways to citizenship, the role of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, how civil cases come to federal court, and freedom of speech under the First Amendment. Students also observed a naturalization ceremony by United States District Judge Walter H. Rice and had the opportunity to make First Amendment appellate arguments before a panel of federal judges. 
     
“It’s an honor to participate in the Dayton Student Justice Institute,” said United States Magistrate Judge Peter Silvain, Jr., who organized this year’s program. Judge Silvain noted that “in addition to providing the students with a basis to understand the work of the federal courts, the DSJI provides them a chance to interact with the Court’s judicial officers, attorneys and professionals and seek guidance in considering whether a legal career would be a path they are interested in pursuing.”  

Modeled after some of the pioneering civics programs undertaken in federal courts across the country, including the Eastern District of New York’s long-standing program, the Southern District of Ohio’s Student Justice Institute has continued to expand its reach, with students from more than 18 school districts participating this year.  

“We are grateful to the local high school students and to the Southern District’s judges, who uniformly support this important program,” United States Magistrate Judge Caroline Gentry said. The organizers of the DSJI—Judges Newman, Silvain and Gentry—thank Chief United States District Judge Sarah D. Morrison for her strong continued support of this civics initiative.  

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.