Courthouse Visits

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 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.

Tyner Academy Mock Trial Team visited the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and Courthouse on May 7, 2018. This was the first year Tyner Academy had participated in the mock trial competition in several years. The group met with Judge Collier prior to observing three criminal hearings before Judge Collier. Following the hearings, the students had an opportunity to meet participants from the hearings they had observed which included Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poole, United States Probation Officer Crystal Johnson, Defense Attorney Leslie Cory, and Defense Attorney Marty Levitt. The participants discussed with the students the cases that they observed in court, and Judge Collier and the participants gave the students an opportunity to ask questions.

In his courtroom in the Dayton, Ohio Federal Courthouse, Judge Newman hosted civics students from Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City, Ohio.

Four teachers from Tippecanoe High attended the morning session including teacher Randy Sentman with whom Judge Newman has appeared on the Cincinnati Public Radio station, WVXU, to talk about civics education in the Southern District of Ohio.

The students heard presentations from Judge Newman, career law clerk Mike Rhinehart, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Koller, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Ivan Garcia. A number of topics were covered in the three-hour session including federal jurisdiction, the structure of the federal courts, separation of powers, state versus federal courts, criminal and civil cases, trials, mediations, the Judiciary Act of 1789, and the history of the Southern District of Ohio.