Judge refuses protection to child at great risk

A District Court judge handling protective orders in November listened as a petitioner told her story. The petitioner described how her partner attacked and strangled her while she was holding their young child in her arms. He strangled her again on the bed, with the child lying right next to them. The respondent’s actions put the child in great danger and show a […]

Judge holds a late defendant accountable

Monitors were surprised to see what played out in DV criminal court last week.  A defendant, due at 8:30 am, arrived at court just before noon.  The judge vigorously assessed the veracity of the defendant’s claim that he was late because his car had broken down. What the judge did is an excellent best practice! […]

Questionable denials of temporary protective orders

temporary protective orders

It is critical that deserving victims of domestic violence get 7 day temporary orders when they need them – but that isn’t always happening in Montgomery County District Courts. A judge in Maryland need only find “reasonable cause” to believe there is bodily harm, stalking or a serious threat to issue a 7 day order. The Maryland legislature […]

Progress on safe child exchange services

Survivors of domestic violence need safe places they can go to transfer their children for visits with the other parent without experiencing fear or injury. Court Watch leaders had a good meeting today with County Councilmember George Leventhal, Sheriff Popkin, Uma Ahluwalia (Director of DHSS) and their staffs. We discussed the urgent need for safe exchange […]

Where are the victims in dv criminal court?

Last week during District Court’s criminal dv docket the State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutors did their level best to present evidence showing grounds for conviction in each case they pursued. On this particular day, however, there was not a single victim present in the courtroom to testify. Going to court to face an abuser is an emotional […]

See WTOP story on new Court Watch study

protective order extensions

WTOP did a great story this morning on our new report, “Small actions, big impacts“. In it, we take a careful look at steps District Court judges, bailiffs, interpreters and clerks take that help victims and their children stay safe. “One judge doesn’t get to hear what the other judges are doing, so this is a great way […]

Innovative practices at District Court improve survivor safety

A new Court Watch report released today documents innovative practices that judges, bailiffs, interpreters and clerks are using in protective order cases at District Court.  Each of the practices listed can improve survivor safety. We hope additional court personnel will consider incorporating these important approaches into their daily work. Judges help keep victims safe when they: Talk to […]

Continuing ed needed for domestic violence judges

When District Court judges are unavailable to hear domestic violence protective order cases, retired judges pitch in. Recently two different visiting domestic violence judges didn’t know about a major change in domestic violence law that took effect Oct. 1, 2015.  The new law is important – it allows dating violence victims to file for full year protective orders instead of […]

Judges fail to discuss gun restrictions with convicted abusers

convicted abusers

Court Watch’s new study shows judges told only 1 out of 126 convicted abusers they were banned from possessing or purchasing guns. When a domestic violence abuser has access to a gun the chances of a victim being killed rise 500%. Judges need to be actively applying Maryland law by informing relevant convicted offenders verbally and in […]