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 weekday (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.
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.
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 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).
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
In addition to hearing from multiple federal judges and participating in a mock trial with the assistance of law firm counsel, the teachers heard from representatives of the United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, Pretrial Services and Probation. United States Marshall Michael Black and Federal Public Defender Joe Medici also spoke to the teachers.
On July 1, 2020, Senior Judge Curtis L. Collier participated in a book reading recording at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga for the Center’s new series titled “Bessie’s Front Porch.” The series will be posted on the Center’s Facebook page to reach children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge Collier read Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Bryan Collier (no relation).”
A total of 14 teachers around the area participated in the Teacher Law School program on November 14, 2019. Judge Curtis L. Collier spoke to the group about Federal Courts. The teachers observed several sentencing hearings before Judge Travis McDonough. One of the highlights of the program for the teachers was the opportunity to participate in a mock voir dire presided over by Judge McDonough. The teachers participated as members of the jury pool. AUSA Kyle Wilson (former law clerk to Judge Mattice) represented the government. Clay Whittaker (CJA panel attorney) represented Defendant Travis Thompson (current career law clerk to Judge McDonough). Following the voir dire event, the group had a Q&A with Judge McDonough and Judge Lee about things they observed during the hearings and mock voir dire. Professor Kody Cooper from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga campus also gave a presentation to the group on Judicial Supremacy and its Challengers.
A total of 14 teachers around the area participated in the Teacher Law School program on November 14, 2019. Judge Curtis L. Collier spoke to the group about Federal Courts. The teachers observed several sentencing hearings before Judge Travis McDonough.
This October and November, Judge Newman and his chambers staff are speaking to Dayton Public School students from all six DPS high schools. Here, Judge Newman and his career law clerk Mike Rhinehart pose with DPS students from the David H. Ponitz Career Technology Center along with Kelvin Glover from U.S. Probation and Marie Sebatware from U.S. Pretrial Services.
A group of 20 high school students and chaperones from Gibbs High School participated in this bi-annual outreach activity. The program began with a tour of the History Suite and courthouse followed by a panel discussion by local attorneys, law students and law school deans. The panelist responded to questions and shared with the students the path that lead them to a career in law. The students were provided lunch with the judges and panelist where they had an opportunity to speak one on one and learn more about their career path in law. Following lunch, the students participated in a mock trial followed by a panel discussion with Chief District Judge Pamela L. Reeves, Senior District Judge Curtis L. Collier, U. S. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne H. Bauknight and U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley, Jr. The panel discussion was entitled “If I Can Do It.”
On November 7, 2018, Judge Newman and his law clerks Mike Rhinehart and Taylor Gamm met with multiple third grade classes at Five Points Elementary School in Springboro, Ohio. They discussed the three branches of government, the role of a federal judge, and civil versus criminal cases. Here, Judge Newman, Mr. Rhinehart, and Ms. Gamm pose with Ms. Loch’s third grade class.
The success of the National Civics Initiative has led Judges from within the Sixth Circuit being asked to teach other federal judges how best to educate students and adults about civics and the workings of the federal courts and three branches of government. In April 2018, and again in July 2018, Judge Michael Newman (from the Southern District of Ohio), Rebecca Fanning (from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts), Judge Shaniek Maynard (from the Southern District of Florida), and Judge Kristen Mix (from the District of Colorado) spoke together at the national Magistrate Judges Workshops in New Orleans and Denver.
Judge Michael J. Newman of the Southern District of Ohio with Career Law Clerk Michael Rhinehart and Teacher Randy Sentman during a visit by Judge Newman and Mr. Rhinehart to Mr. Sentman’s high school civics class in Tipp City, Ohio on March 20, 2018. Judge Newman and Mr. Rhinehart met with multiple different civics classes taught by Mr. Sentman to teach the students about a number of topics including the importance of the Federal Courts; the workings of the three branches of government; and the manner in which Federal Judges apply the law fairly and appropriately to decide complicated disputes.
Judge Michael J. Newman of the Southern District of Ohio and Career Law Clerk Michael Rhinehart meet with students at Versailles High School in Versailles, Ohio on March 13, 2018.
In January 2018, Judge Michael Newman, his career law clerk Mike Rhinehart, and his term law clerk LeighAnn Thomas met with approximately 500 8th grade students at Springboro Junior High School in Springboro, Ohio (near Dayton) to talk to these intermediate school students about the federal courts, the difference between criminal and civil cases, how federal judges decide cases, bench trials and jury trials, and the mediation of civil disputes. Judge Newman, Mr. Rhinehart, and Ms. Thomas answered the students’ civics questions and discussed with them the importance of fairness and due process. The students also discussed career paths in the law.
The Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, at Dayton
A Review of the 2016-17 and 2017-18 Academic Years
by
Michael Rhinehart, Esq.
Career Law Clerk to Judge Michael Newman
In 2016, the Hon. Michael J. Newman, United States Magistrate Judge with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Dayton, Ohio, became National President of the Federal Bar Association. In that role, Judge Newman sought to supplement and expand civics education beyond classrooms and into federal courtrooms across the country. At the heart of this National Civics Initiative was an effort to encourage elementary, middle, and high school students to meet with Federal Judges and lawyers in order to gain a better understanding of the court’s role in our system of government from those who work in the courts every day.
