Category: Domestic Violence Law

Domestic violence law determines how effect protective orders are in stopping abuse. Laws determine how effectively abusers can be criminally prosecuted and required to attend needed mental health, addiction, or anger management services.

Maryland’s protective order law isn’t perfect, but it’s a good strong law. But where’s the justice?

Court Watch has worked hard to change Maryland laws that lack enforcement measures to take guns from convicted abusers. A new law will take effect Oct. 1, 2018 that is a great first step. For the first time, judges will be required to orally tell the abuser that he is disqualified from having a gun. The judge is required to also verbally describe the new limitation in the law: abusers must turn in all guns in their possession within 48 hours.

Gun Restrictions in Domestic Violence Protective Orders: Judicial Practices in Montgomery County District Court, January 2024-July 2025

Domestic violence protective orders play a critical role in keeping firearms away from abusers under federal and Maryland law. When effectively enforced, protective orders that bar domestic abusers from having guns protect victims and their
families and save lives. The proposed Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act
would strengthen Maryland law by mandating removal of guns from abusers earlier in the protective order process (Maryland General Assembly, 2026).
Since 2011, Court Watch Montgomery has monitored judicial practices in protective
order hearings in Montgomery County District Court. Our findings help the public understand what happens in domestic violence courtrooms and provide context for consideration of changes in law, policy, or practice.

New laws take effect in Maryland today!

New laws take effect in Maryland today which were passed by the legislature in the winter/spring 2019 season in Annapolis. Many impact domestic violence victims: Firearms New firearms laws allow the prosecution of anyone loaning a gun to someone known to be legally barred from possessing them or when it is known the gun will […]

Courts begin implementing new Maryland gun laws

Courts all across the state have begun implementing new Maryland gun laws that: improve firearm transfers upon conviction of a domestic violence crime; and make more people eligible to more quickly get Commissioner or court permission to temporarily remove guns from a person who is a threat to themselves or others. As of October 1, […]

No progress extending and expanding Violence Against Women Act

Re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which funds a great number of domestic violence service programs across Maryland, has been delayed in Congress’ rush to head home for the fall campaign season. Funding under the Act is extended for two to three months, but a year-long authorization and appropriation is needed to enshrine […]

Prince George’s judge to release abuser who 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

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 […]

Judge fails to set hearings on needed 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 […]

Samantha Bee uses our data on domestic violence and guns

Samantha Bee took a hard look last night at domestic violence and guns – and she used Court Watch’s data in our “Abusers with Guns” study to highlight the critical role judges play. We’re about 3 min, 50 seconds in. Samantha Bee used Court Watch data showing that 126 abusers convicted of assault in criminal […]

Partner gun assault highlights key policy problems

A Queen Anne’s County man was arrested this week on charges of attempted murder following an alleged physical assault that included threats to kill the survivor with a shotgun. The woman’s partner fired at or near her, but she was not hit by the shot. The victim suffered repeated physical assault for almost two hours […]

New “No Means No” rape law will help survivors

At long last, the Maryland legislature has passed — and Governor Hogan appears ready to sign into law — a significant change in our state’s bizarre rape law which, until now, required prosecutors to prove that a rape victim had physically resisted her assailant, regardless of the threat implicit in doing so and despite the […]