2017 “One World Day” Festival – Naturalization Ceremony
Although not specifically a Federal Bar Association sponsored event, in keeping with this past year’s FBA focus on civics education and recognition, for many years, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has held an outdoor public naturalization ceremony as part of “One World Day,” an annual all-day festival sponsored by the City of Cleveland, Ohio and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation for over seventy years. The 2017 One World Day festival, held on August 27, 2017, is held each year throughout Cleveland’s 100-year-old, 276-acre Cultural Gardens, which currently includes 32 individual nationality gardens (with eight more gardens dedicated and planned) running along a two-mile wooded corridor through Cleveland’s University Circle area. The naturalization ceremony is always a highlight of the festival’s opening ceremonies. This year’s event was presided over by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, where 25 persons from 17 countries were sworn in as new United States Citizens.
Northern District of Ohio Constitutional Law Awards
On May 14, 2016, the Northern District of Ohio Chapter awarded its FBA award to the two students who received the highest grade in Constitutional Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. The awards went to Mitchell R. Prentis and Karey E. Werner, both of whom graduated summa cum laude the following day. They were honored for their achievement in the basic course in Constitutional Law during their first year. Werner also got the top grade in Federal Courts and received the law school’s Patricia Burgess Award as the outstanding student in public law courses.
Volunteer Night at the Greater Cleveland Foodbank
The Northern District of Ohio Chapter held a volunteer night on May 2, 2016 at the Greater Cleveland Foodbank. The well-attended event was organized by the Younger Lawyers Committee and supported by the Law Clerks Committee. Chief Judge Solomon Oliver and his staff, and Judge Dan Polster and his staff, attended the event, along with members of the Northern District of Ohio Chapter. Volunteers helped organize food stock received from donors by taking on manual labor, sorting food, checking it for quality, organizing it, and moving it around the warehouse. By all accounts those in attendance had a very good time helping the Foodbank serve needy citizens in Greater Cleveland.
