NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

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. 

We’ve now completed the first year of the Naturalization Civics Challenge and have embarked on the second. We think it’s been a great success! 

Here’s what one teacher whose class participated in the Challenge and attended a naturalization ceremony in the Middle District of Georgia had to say:

I took 17 of our students to a Naturalization Ceremony in Columbus, Ga, on September 5, 2024. We got to tour the judge’s chambers prior to the ceremony and Judge Clay Land honored our students and included them in the ceremony introduction. It was a wonderful experience overall! My students were very appreciative of the opportunity and had several really great conversations about the process.

This is something I am so happy to have accessible to my school! I hope to continue to participate in the program with more students as the school year continues.

 

Thank you for everything you do for this program!

And here is a picture of Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida, along with students and their teacher from MAST Academy in Miami, after the students attended a naturalization ceremony over which Judge Bloom presided in June 2024:

We thank all of you who have generously given your time to this project, and we look forward to your continuing support.

If you are aware of any teachers or students who are interested in participating, they can find information about the challenge at this link: https://federaljudgesassoc.org/federal-judges-association-civics-challenge/

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.

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.

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.

This October and November, judges in Dayton are meeting with Dayton Public School students. Here, Magistrate Judge Michael Newman and Senior District Judge Walter H. Rice pose with DPS students from Belmont High School.

On April 1, 2019, U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Knoxville hosted a group of students from South Doyle High School and Fulton High School who participated in the all-day Justice For All program. A total of 26 students and chaperones/teachers participated in the event which included a morning panel discussion by local attorneys, law students and law school deans. The panelist each share their backgrounds and what led them to a career in law. The panelist responded to questions and shared with the students that having a difficult childhood or not having financial support is not a deterrent to pursuing whatever dreams you may have for your future. The students also participated in a tour of the courthouse and history museum, participated in a mock trial, participated in a panel discussion with some of the judges, and enjoyed lunch with the judges and other panel participants.