“Don’t make a federal case out of it” is a common phrase we have all heard. When we say that, we mean that the matter is not as serious as it may first appear and that we should calm down. By implication the phrase suggests that a federal case is indeed a big, momentous thing and that cases in our state courts are not of the same importance or magnitude. 

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio presided over two naturalization ceremonies at baseball stadiums this summer. 

Thousands of fans cheered after 60 new citizens took the Oath of Allegiance on July 30 at Great American Ball Park before the Cincinnati Reds took on the Los Angeles Dodgers. The fans then joined the new citizens and United States Magistrate Judge Stephanie K. Bowman in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Practically all citizens agree that the federal judiciary is critically important to our democracy.  For citizens to have confidence in and respect for the judiciary, it must be above suspicion.  To retain the public’s confidence and respect, the judiciary must not only deliver justice, but also be perceived as doing so.  The perception that justice is being done is as important to the public’s confidence in the courts as is the actual occurrence of justice.  

In the past few weeks and over the next several weeks, we will experience a large number of decisions issued by the United States Supreme Court.