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.
Lincoln Memorial Duncan School of Law
Justice for All
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.”
Judge Michael Newman Meets Five Points Elementary Students
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.
Judge Newman Speaking to Dayton Public School Students
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.
Judge Michael Newman Meets Tipp City High School Students
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.
Federal Judges Teach Other Federal Judges About Civics Education
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.
Book Reading Recording at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center
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).”
First-ever Teachers’ Institute in the Dayton, Ohio Federal Courthouse
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.
The Dayton judges are grateful to our Chief Judge, the Hon. Algenon Marbley, who fully and enthusiastically supported this effort. The judges also thank Rebecca Fanning from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for her assistance in planning this civics event.
Next month, the Dayton judges will host the two-day Dayton Students’ Justice Institute, a civics education seminar for high school students - the first of its kind in the Dayton federal courthouse.
The Dayton judges plan to hold both the Teachers‘ Institute and the Students’ Justice Institute every summer going forward.
Photo: Standing with Dayton teachers are (left to right) United States Magistrate Judge Caroline Gentry, United States District Judge Michael Newman, and United States Magistrate Judge Peter Silvain.
Southern District of Ohio Civics Education Outreach
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.
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.
