Prince George’s judge to release abuser who set his girlfriend on fire

set his girlfriend on fire

LaQuinn Phillips stands accused of attempted murder after he allegedly set his girlfriend on fire in September of 2017, leaving burns over 70% of Andrea Grinage’s body. Grinage was pregnant at the time. Incredibly, Prince George’s Circuit Court Judge Pearson recently ordered that Mr. Phillips be released from jail to home detention due to a […]

Powerful tool to get guns out of the hands of abusers coming soon

new Maryland gun laws

Getting guns out of the hands of abusers is one of the most important ways to prevent domestic violence homicides. A new law that takes effect October 1 will give police and victims a powerful tool that can save lives. Beginning October 1 police, family members, intimate partners, cohabitants, health care professionals, and legal guardians […]

Maryland Circuit Court judge’s verdict not in “the best interest of the child”

Judge Joan Ryon

Circuit Court Judge Joan Ryon recently delivered a shocking decision in a Montgomery County custody case that appears to ignore credible evidence of physical and sexual child abuse and domestic violence. This case is receiving national attention due to the irregularities in the military’s handling of the original abuse case and ex parte communications between […]

Judge fails to set hearings on needed protective order extensions

protective order extensions

Are domestic violence victims in Maryland able to get protective order extensions when they can show a court that they have “good cause?”  Under Maryland law, if a petitioner has “good cause” for their request a judge can, and should, extend the order for six months to provide continued protection. Generally, Montgomery County District Court […]

Police department releases domestic violence crime data

domestic violence crime

The Montgomery County Police Department has released initial domestic violence crime data for the first four months of  2018.  Court Watch has requested data on all 911 domestic violence calls for 2017 and hopes to report soon on more complete statistics, and compare them to similar data we obtained from the police department in 2014. […]

Disappearing final protective orders

victim to survivor

It’s not easy to make the transition from domestic violence victim to survivor.  A disappearing final protective order doesn’t help. In fact, it can be incredibly dangerous. After a final protective order has been granted the judge describes what kinds of behaviors the order restricts and what services or remedies it requires.  Both parties receive […]

Where Marylanders file for protective orders may surprise you

file for protective orders

Where domestic violence victims in Maryland file for protective orders greatly affects their access to full justice. We have work to do! County and state policymakers have appropriately put substantial thought and funds into court-based services for domestic violence victims. Far too many victims still come to court and are forced to fill out impossible-to-understand […]

Are judges using simple practices that protect victims?

domestic violence courtrooms

Are judges using basic, fundamental practices in domestic violence courtrooms? Simple practices that improve case outcomes for victims? Only 53% of the time, finds our new study.  Many simple, no-cost practices, that are very important for victim safety, just aren’t being used by judges. Like a surgeon washing their hands prior to surgery, these practices […]

Who files protective orders in Maryland? Do they get protection?

judge accuses domestic violence victim

Who is filing protective orders in Montgomery County Maryland?  How many residents actually get lasting protection?  Court Watch’s new report,  “A closer look at protective orders in Montgomery County,” shows that only about 37% of victims who requested protection from the court received a final protective order that provided “no contact” for one year. Not […]

Community tour for new judges

new judges

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