Three Federal Judges from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio – District Judge Michael J. Newman, Magistrate Judge Peter B. Silvain, Jr., and Magistrate Judge Caroline H. Gentry – spoke to eighth grade students and then naturalized 35 new Americans in the Oakwood High School auditorium in front of an audience of high schoolers in celebration of the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary. 

Judges from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio visited Oakwood City School District in Dayton, Ohio, and presided over the naturalization ceremony on January 22. 

"It's not every day you get to see the Constitution in action," U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman said after the ceremony. "This is very special."

The new citizens hailed from 18 different countries. They stood with their right hands in the air as Judge Newman led them in reciting the Oath of Allegiance. Once they finished the oath, they were officially citizens.   

The ceremony was the last step of a journey that takes years to complete to become an American citizen. The candidates were lawful residents of the United States who passed required background checks, proved their good moral character, and passed English reading, writing, and speaking tests. They also passed a U.S. history and civics exam.

The new citizens were greeted at the school by the Honors Orchestra. They were treated to a rendition of the National Anthem by the school's choir, Synergy. The school's band finally celebrated them at the end of the ceremony. 

Judges also spoke to students about the role of a judge in both state and Federal Courts, what the Rule of Law means, and what it takes to become a judge.

They also discussed how television and movies often dramatize what takes place in Court and that real cases take time and thought to reach resolutions. Judge Newman highlighted that, to be a good judge, someone must be good at problem-solving.

The students also saw a demonstration by the U.S. Marshals. They learned about Flower, a U.S. Marshal canine trained to detect explosives. They watched a demonstration of how Flower navigates a room seeking scents associated with danger and how she alerts her handler when she finds them. Flower and the U.S. Marshals are instrumental in making naturalizations at community venues possible.

The naturalization visit was also made possible by Oakwood City Schools' administration, including Superintendent Dr. Neil Gupta and High School Principal Matt Salyer.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio plans to host events across the District in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. These events will help celebrate an important milestone in America's history while also connecting the Court with the community it serves. 

Any school or civic group in the Southern District of Ohio interested in hosting a naturalization ceremony or connecting with the Court can do so by emailing Public Information Officer Parker Perry at Parker_Perry@ohsd.uscourts.gov.