Enhancing Judicial Skills in Domestic Violence Cases Workshop
Program Overview And Workshop Description
The workshop addresses the topics described below, using hypothetical case problems, role-play exercises, small group discussions and faculty demonstrations. This highly interactive format enables judges from different jurisdictions and levels of experience to learn from one another.
Who Should Attend?
All state and tribal court judges and judicial officers (commissioners, referee, etc.) are eligible to attend the workshop. Priority will be given to judicial officers from jurisdictions currently receiving one of the following OVW grants: (1) Grants to Encourage Arrest; (2) STOP Violence Against Indian Women Grants; (3) Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant program; or (4) Court Training and Improvement Program. Priority is also given to OVW funded agencies and jurisdictions that send more than one judge. Local OVW funded agencies and some courts may be able to cover their judges travel and per diem costs. All participants are responsible for their own travel and per diem costs.
Continuing Education/Legal Credits
NJIDV does not offer national CE/CLE credits. However, NJIDV provides each participant that completes the course with a certificate of completion and verification of attendance hours. NJIDV will also provide materials so participants can submit for education credits in their respective jurisdictions.
EJS Workshop Topics
Victim and Perpetrator Behavior
This segment will help participants understand the motivations and behaviors of perpetrators and adult and child victims.
Fact-Finding
Participants will learn how to apply an understanding of domestic violence to judicial fact-finding and identify evidentiary issues that are of primary concern for judges.
Access to Justice and the Judge's Role in Community Response to Domestic Violence
This segment focuses on identifying and overcoming barriers to achieving justice in domestic violence cases by focusing on the judge as a leader in the justice system and a coordinated community response to domestic violence.
Fairness and Culture Issues in Domestic Violence Cases
Participants will formulate definitions of culture and cultural competence, discuss the dynamics of difference, and identify how culture is relevant in the courtroom.
Decision-Making Skills and Enforcement
This segment focuses on how judges can apply the law in their jurisdictions to the facts in cases involving domestic violence and how they can effective enhance compliance with their orders.
Practical Courtroom Exercises
Participants will move among five breakout rooms to participate in a series of practical courtroom exercised designed to help them identify issues involving domestic violence.