Civics Education | CONNECTIONS

Citizens' understanding of the fundamentals of civic rights and responsibilities of individuals and the history and functions of our government, including the role of the courts, helps to strengthen our democracy and the rule of law. Our civic education initiative supports educational institutions and other community organizations in developing age-appropriate interactive and engaging learning experiences.

With advance notice, we welcome court visits from school groups, mentorship program participants, and community groups throughout the Sixth Circuit, as well as dialogue on how we can assist educators in enhancing civic education. Civic education opportunities are potentially available every week day (other than national holidays).

In connection with court visits by classes, internship and mentorship programs, and in special programs for educators, we facilitate and assist in providing civic education training on the administration and development of the law, to high school students enrolled in law-focused courses, public school students enrolled in general social studies courses, and teachers in professional development programs.

In promoting these goals, we work closely with public entities, community groups and professional organizations. We look forward to expanding our civics education work and partnerships throughout the circuit.

Dayton Civics Initiative Takes Flight - Read More

Civics In The Dayton Ohio Federal Courthouse

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.

Oakwood High School Naturalization

Oakwood, Ohio – January 10, 2025: U.S. District Court Judges from the Southern District of Ohio came together to educate Oakwood City School's eighth grade and high school students about civics, the court system, and careers in law. Led by U.S. District Judge Michael Newman, the initiative featured a naturalization ceremony and included Magistrate Judges Peter Silvain, Jr. and Caroline Gentry along with U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Guy Humphrey.

From left: Matt Salyer Oakwood High School principal, Tim Badenhop Oakwood Middle School principal, Judge Ellis Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, Judge Gentry, Dr. Neil Gupta Superintendent, Judge Silvain, Judge Newman, Judge Humphrey – Bankruptcy Court

Civics and Service

The Civics & Service Committee continues its three major projects: the Naturalization Civics Challenge, the Clerkship Chats, and the Speech Bank. In this edition of The Bench Press, we focus on the Naturalization Civics Challenge.

As a reminder, in the Naturalization Civics Challenge, high-school students take the naturalization civics test. If they score at least 90%, we award them an “Excellent Citizen” certificate and invite them to attend a federal-court naturalization ceremony in their home judicial district before a federal judge.

We’ve now completed the first year of the Naturalization Civics Challenge and have embarked on the second. We think it’s been a great success!

Here’s what one teacher whose class participated in the Challenge and attended a naturalization ceremony in the Middle District of Georgia had to say:

I took 17 of our students to a Naturalization Ceremony in Columbus, Ga, on September 5, 2024. We got to tour the judge’s chambers prior to the ceremony and Judge Clay Land honored our students and included them in the ceremony introduction. It was a wonderful experience overall! My students were very appreciative of the opportunity and had several really great conversations about the process.

This is something I am so happy to have accessible to my school! I hope to continue to participate in the program with more students as the school year continues.

Thank you for everything you do for this program!

And here is a picture of Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida, along with students and their teacher from MAST Academy in Miami, after the students attended a naturalization ceremony over which Judge Bloom presided in June 2024:

We thank all of you who have generously given your time to this project, and we look forward to your continuing support.

If you are aware of any teachers or students who are interested in participating, they can find information about the challenge at this link: https://federaljudgesassoc.org/federal-judges-association-civics-challenge/

Dayton, Ohio’s inaugural Federal Court “Court Camp”/Justice Institute

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.”

More than 40 high school students from throughout the Dayton region heard from United States District Judges and United States Magistrate Judges; career and term federal law clerks; Richard Nagel, the Clerk of Court; Joseph Medici, the Federal Public Defender; Assistant U.S. Attorneys; Assistant Federal Public Defenders; and representatives from U.S. Pretrial Services and U.S. Probation.

Day 1 of the Justice Institute was focused on criminal law including sentencing; Day 2 was focused on civil law including immigration. On Day 2, the high school students heard from University of Dayton School of Law (“UDSL”) professor Ericka Curran, who explained immigration law, and a representative from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. UDSL Associate Dean Chris Roederer also explained the First Amendment to the high school students.

The students witnessed a naturalization ceremony for 10 new citizens on Day 2 and concluded the Justice Institute with a moot court on a First Amendment school law issue.

The Court is grateful to Magistrate Judge Peter Silvain for planning the Justice Institute along with United States District Judge Michael Newman and United States Magistrate Judge Caroline Gentry.

Dayton-area high school students participating in the Dayton Federal Court’s inaugural Justice Institute pose with Judge Newman, Judge Silvain, Judge Gentry, Clerk Nagel, Professor Curran, and Judge Silvain’s law clerks.