AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL ART PROJECT
The Art Project (America the Beautiful) began on July 12, 2013, and was completed on November 2, 2013. This was a cooperative project between Mon-Day Female Residents, STOP Male Residents, K12 Art Gallery, local artists and Court Staff.
WEST COAST
This work of art depicts some of the symbolic places or structures on the West Coast. In 1933 construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge and it was completed in 1937. Engineer and bridge-builder, Joseph Strauss was a pioneer in building safety, making history with innovations including hard hats and daily sobriety tests. The Golden Gate Bridge’s paint color is orange vermillion, also called international orange.
San Francisco’s most iconic image of Victorian-style houses is sometimes referred to as “Postcard Row” or “Painted Ladies.” While technically Victorian refers to an era not a style, it’s sometimes used as a catch-all term for the exuberant, sometimes quirky and charming structures built between 1840 and 1900. Many of the houses used local redwood for architectural ornamentation.
Fisherman’s Wharf is where cable cars, Alcatraz, sea lions, and steaming Dungeness Crab dinners all come together. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top family-friendly destinations.
EAST COAST – FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
The American Bald Eagle became our Country’s official bird in 1789. President Kennedy wrote: “The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolizes the strength and freedom of America.”
Katherine Bates was inspired by the view from Pike’s Peak in 1893 and wrote the lyrics to America the Beautiful. Bates originally wrote the works as a poem titled America. The music was composed by Samuel A. Ward in 1882. Ward’s music combined with Bates’ poem was published in 1910 and titled America the beautiful.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the people of the United States from the people of France in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution. In 1884, the 151-foot-tall, 225-ton Statue of Liberty was delivered to the American Ambassador of Paris. The statue was dismantled into 300 pieces and packed in 214 wooden crates to be shipped to the United States. The Statue was re-assembled on her new pedestal and dedicated on October 28, 1886.
The Atlantic Ocean and the skyline of New York City get us started from Sea to Shining Sea.
OH BEAUTIFUL FOR PATRIOT’S DREAM THAT SEES BEYOND THE YEARS
This work of art has 60 concrete faces of court employees and clients from the Mon-Day and STOP Programs, plus 20 hands of court employees
The American flag has been the symbol of our nation’s strength and unity. It’s been a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens.
In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first American flag. On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new Constellation.”
Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several acts that changed the shape, design and arrangement of the flag and allowed for additional stars and stripes to be added to reflect the admission of each new state.
Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with six white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states to the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
CONFIRM THY SOUL IN SELF CONTROL – THY LIBERTY IN LAW
The Ohio’s coat of arms features a full sheaf of wheat, symbolizing agriculture and bounty; a cluster of seventeen arrows, symbolizing Ohio’s admittance as the seventeenth of the United States of America; and the Wright Brothers’ plane; symbolizing the “Birthplace of Aviation”. In 2003 the U.S. House voted 378-3 for a resolution naming Dayton, Ohio as the place where aviation was born.
Newcom Tavern, also known as the “Old Cabin” was built in 1796. It was located on the southwest corner of Main and Water (later Monument) Streets. It served as Dayton’s first school, first church, courthouse, council chamber and store. The Tavern was moved to Carillon Park in 1965.
The Montgomery County Courthouse, built in 1847, is a historic Greek Revival building located on the northwest corner of Third and Main Street. It is referred to as the “Old Courthouse”. The design was suggested by Dayton citizen Horace Pease. The concept was approved by the Montgomery County Commissioners who hired architect Howard Daniels of New York to design the plans.
Surrounding the Seal and Courthouses are plants indigenous to Montgomery County: Buckeye Tree, Milkweed, Tulip Tree, Redbud Tree, Wilde Rose, Bloodroot, Trillium, and Paw-Paw Tree.
Court Camp
Student Quotes
“The experience has really opened my eyes. Thank you for helping me realize that I want to go into the criminal justice area of study.” – Court Camp student
“Going into Court Camp, I had a lot of misconceptions about the justice system and how the law works. It opened my eyes.” – Court Camp student
“The whole week I gained a lot of knowledge.” – Court Camp student
“This was something I took to my heart and will continue to pursue my journey on being a juvenile probation officer.” — Court Camp student
Introduction
Each year, Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, General Division hosts a Court Camp Program for local high school students. Court Camp is an educational program for high school students who are interested in learning more about the judicial and criminal justice systems in Ohio. It is a weeklong immersion program held at the Montgomery County Courts Building. Students arrive at the courthouse at 8:45 a.m. daily and are involved in various activities until 4:00 p.m. On the first day of Court Camp, the students are welcomed by the Court Administrator and a special guest. Each day, the students have lunch with a judge and are able to ask questions and learn about Ohio’s judicial system.
Throughout the week, the students participate in activities that include:
- A tour of the Montgomery County Jail and the Juvenile Detention Center
- Presentation from the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office and their role in the justice system
- A presentation by a defense attorney regarding the defense of clients in the justice system
- Observation of a felony criminal docket
- Visit to Dayton Municipal Court
- Visit to the U.S. Federal Court
- Visit to a Law Firm
- Group discussions
- Presentation from a detective and an evidence technician on criminal investigation
- Roundtable discussion with the Secure Transitional Offender Program (S.T.O.P.) and Adult Probation clients
“Our Court Camp Program has really grown over the past six years. We initially started the program with ten students from one school. Now the program averages 15 – 20 students from six area schools. On the last day of the program, the students write an essay about their Court Camp experience.” — Mary Kay Stirling, Director of Case Management | Court Camp organizer.
Law Day
On May 1st of each year, the United States officially recognizes Law Day. The day is reserved to reflect on the role of law in the foundation of the country and to recognize its importance for society.
Each Law Day has a theme that is discussed. The Courts in Montgomery County, Ohio takes this opportunity to recognize individuals in the community that have made a difference over the past year in the judiciary and criminal justice system.
Law DAY 2018
Law Day Theme
Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom
The U.S. Constitution sets out a system of government with distinct and independent branches—Congress, the Presidency, and a Supreme Court. It also defines legislative, executive, and judicial powers and outlines how they interact. These three separate branches share power, and each branch serves as a check on the power of the others. “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition,” James Madison explained in Federalist 51. Why? Madison believed that the Constitution’s principles of separation of powers and checks and balances preserve political liberty. They provide a framework for freedom. Yet, this framework is not self-executing. We the people must continually act to ensure that our constitutional democracy endures, preserving our liberties and advancing our rights. The Law Day 2018 theme enables us to reflect on the separation of powers as fundamental to our constitutional purpose and to consider how our governmental system is working for ourselves and our posterity.
Local Award Winners
Court Tours
Request a tour
To arrange a free guided tour of the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court please contact Heidi Adams:
Phone: (937) 225-4376
Email: tour@montcourt.oh.gov
The Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas General Division offers a unique opportunity for your classroom or organization to learn about your local court system.
Experienced and knowledgeable tour guides will provide a comprehensive program that includes:
- Visit to Pretrial and Probation Departments
- Participation in a mock trial
- Q&A session with a Judge and Court Administration
- Observation of an actual court trial
Tours are:
- Limited
- Scheduled on a first-come-first-serve basis
- Are limited to 25 students and/or adults
- The school and/or organization is responsible for transportation to and from the Courthouse as well as parking
Mock Trials
The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education facilitates a district, regional, and state competition for Ohio high school mock trial teams. The Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas General Division participates in the competitions in an effort to give students interested in the legal profession a “peek” into a trial court and its process. Hopefully one of these enterprising youth decide a career in law is where they want to be someday in the future.
