The First District Court of Appeals welcomed 95 interns in June from thirteen local government and legal agencies to its 2026 Summer Intern Day, nearly doubling participation from last year’s event. The event offers students interning in Hamilton County an opportunity to observe appellate arguments, learn more about the appellate process, and engage with judges and staff at the First District.
Interns attended from the following agencies:
- Hamilton County Clerk of Court’s Office
- Hamilton County Help Center
- Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office
- Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office
- Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
- Ohio Justice and Policy Center
- Cincinnati City Hall
- Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court
- Hamilton County Probate Court
- Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
- Hamilton County Juvenile Court
- Children’s Law Center
- Sixth Circuit Federal Court
Jonathan Feldmeier, an intern with the First District Court of Appeals, described the experience as “a great opportunity to see the different arrays of law at one time amongst different professionals in the Hamilton County community.”
The day began with oral arguments in two cases before Presiding Judge Jennifer Kinsley, Judge Ginger Bock, and Judge Terry Nestor. Following arguments, First District interns guided visiting students through a series of educational activities, including a question‑and‑answer session with First District staff attorneys and a tour of the First District’s courtrooms and offices. The event concluded with an additional question-and-answer session featuring Judge Kinsley, Judge Bock, and Judge Nestor, and a networking lunch in the First District’s training room.
The question-and-answer sessions offered insight into the work of the appellate court and the diverse paths that led each judge to the bench. These sessions also provided insight as to the variety of career paths which may lead to working as a staff attorney for a court. Participants asked questions about judicial elections, public service, and the ways in which the judges and the court engage in the community.
Talisa Effinger, a second‑year law student at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and an intern with the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, said, “All the judges come from different legal and work experiences. Hearing how each has been able to apply their unique backgrounds to the work they do is really nice to hear as a law student who is still unsure.”
High‑school intern Will Stock, a student at Seven Hills and an intern with the Legal Aid Society, added, “The teamwork amongst the judges really stood out to me, and the event taught me a lot about the court of appeals.”
First District Judge Jennifer Kinsley said, “Intern Day is all about exposing students at all levels of learning to the appellate process. Every year, the program gets bigger and better. I am especially grateful to the court’s own summer interns for welcoming our guests and leading tour groups through our facility.”
The First District Court of Appeals extends its thanks to all participating agencies and looks forward to continuing this annual program in the years ahead.