Questionable denials of 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 […]
Particularly unsafe day in criminal domestic violence court
Some criminal domestic violence dockets go more smoothly than others. It was infuriating last week to see what happened to a victim who took the brave step to come to court to testify against her former partner, who was charged with violating her protective order six times. The defendant’s criminal record included numerous assault charges, carrying a concealed […]
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
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 […]
New dv hotline cards available in Amharic
The Washington D.C. metro area is home to the largest Ethiopian population outside of Ethiopia itself. Many Ethiopian residents of Montgomery County Maryland speak Amharic. Court Watch has produced business cards with info in Amharic on how to get help if you are the victim of domestic violence. More detailed information is available in a one page […]
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 […]
Delays in scheduling interpreters may result in lack of legal protection
A woman came to Silver Spring District Court last week for the final hearing on her protective order. When she got to the courtroom the judge told her there was no Farsi interpreter available. He suggested she wait until the afternoon so they could try to find someone, but they were unsuccessful. This survivor confided to […]
Why Are Protective Orders Granted At Different Rates Across Maryland?
Where you live can define many things about you. Can it also determine if you are granted a protective order? Court Watch Montgomery has organized data showing significant variation across Maryland in the rates at which protective orders are granted, denied, or dismissed. To unpack this, in studio with Maryland Morning host Sheilah Kast is […]
New data show wide variation in intimate partner violence results at MD courts
A new Court Watch analysis of all 17,484 final protective order hearings in MD District and Circuit Courts in 2013 shows that although all Maryland courts operate under the same domestic violence laws, courts in Maryland’s 24 counties granted, denied, and dismissed final protective orders at dramatically different rates. Read the PRESS RELEASE…