Archive for News
New Court Watch report looks at emergency financial aid for DV survivors
Court Watch Montgomery has a new report out – and the news isn’t good for domestic violence survivors and their children in Maryland. The new report, “Critical scaffolding: strengthening Maryland’s transitional financial support for domestic violence survivors and their children,” identifies numerous barriers to survivors getting the transitional financial help…
“Write a different ending” portraits used in Annapolis hearing
It was nice to run into Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard) in Annapolis this week. She thanked me profusely for the 6 portraits of domestic violence homicide victims that we had sent her. Each defendant was disqualified from possessing a gun in Maryland, but had one. Del. Atterbeary held up the portraits…
Lively discussion at the Neshante & Chloe Davis DV Task Force
Court Watch was pleased to testify today in front of the Neshante & Chloe Davis DV Task Force. The task force will make wide-ranging recommendations about reforms needed to prevent domestic violence. The task force is led by Sen. Anthony Muse and Del. Vanessa Atterbeary and includes representatives from the…
Custody & safe visitation questions raised by Rams prosecution
The Washington Post editorialized this week about the dangers inherent in judicial custody and visitation decisions. Lessons can be learned from the tragic death of Prince Rams. Prince Rams was a 15-month-old boy who was killed by his father on his 4th unsupervised visit. Prince’s mother had begged a Montgomery County…
Court Watch volunteers win Volunteer Group of the Year Award
Lots of Court Watch volunteers turned out for Montgomery Serves awards night, where County Executive Ike Leggett and Council member Craig Rice presented them with the Volunteer Group of the Year Award. Rice used the occasion to stress the importance of full funding for the monitored exchange and safe visitation…
Many groups testify for Monitored Child Exchange & Supervised Visitation Center
Advocates for domestic violence victims and their children have been coming out in force to push for full funding of our first County-run monitored child exchange and supervised visitation center for domestic violence victims and their children. Today a host of organizations testified as part of the Montgomery County Council’s public…
Posted under: Children in violent homes, News, Safe visitation services for dv victims
Court Watch volunteers win big!
Court Watch Montgomery’s 70 volunteers are the proud winners of the Montgomery Serves Community Service Award for 2017! The award honors some of the County’s most devoted and effective volunteers. Court Watch volunteers spent more than 8,000 hours reducing domestic violence by improving how courts handle domestic violence cases. Volunteers…
Court Watch volunteers discuss DV dockets with 5 District Court judges
This week 18 Court Watch volunteers spent over an hour discussing the protective order and domestic violence criminal dockets with District Court Administrative Judge Eugene Wolfe, and Judges Mitchell, Moffett, Williams and Sabett. It was a valuable opportunity to more fully understand the court’s approach to domestic violence cases and…
Posted under: Guns, Judges, News, Safe visitation services for dv victims, Staggered exits
Judge goes the extra mile with victims dropping cases
When a victim files a petition many abusers feel they are losing control. The potential for danger rises dramatically. Some domestic violence victims who drop their protective order cases are doing so in reaction to extreme anger or threats by their abuser. Judge Zuberi Williams went out of his way…
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…