Small Actions, Big Impacts: Innovative approaches by Montgomery County District Courts personnel in domestic violence cases

This report provides quotes from our courtroom monitors’ notes documenting the many and varied innovative approaches taken by Montgomery County District Court judges and courthouse personnel in protective order hearings. These approaches have helped to enhance victim safety, ensure both parties understand the parameters of orders and empower victims, underlining how “going the extra mile” enhances effective legal protections for victims and makes our communities safer places to live.

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 […]

New report out today on Circuit Court’s practices in domestic violence cases (Nov. 2013)

Court Watch new report

Protection for victims of domestic violence in Montgomery County’s Circuit Court – Deaths from domestic violence are a continuing and preventable tragedy in Maryland. In each of the last three fiscal years, the number of domestic violence victims killed in Maryland has increased. From July 2011 through June 2012, 49 Maryland residents died as a result of domestic violence. […]