NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

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!

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.