Category Archives: Domestic Violence

My Wife Joan Zorza Honored by Boston College Law School For Her Domestic Violence Work

Posted on July 26, 2017 by richardzorza

As described in the Summer 2017 issue of BC Law, Joan was given one of the five Law Day awards this year by Boston College Law School for her lifetime of dedicated work in domestic violence and sexual assault.  She … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Violence, Family Law, Law Schools, Legal Aid, Personal, Vocation | 1 Comment

Google Home Hears Domestic Dispute and Calls Cops

Posted on July 8, 2017 by richardzorza

This is the stuff or dream and nightmare.  According to All That Is Interesting Dot Com, As reported by ABC News, New Mexico man Eduardo Barros was house-sitting at a home in Tijeras with his girlfriend and her daughter this … Continue reading →

Posted in Artificial Intelligence, Criminal Law, Domestic Violence, Family Law, Mobile Technology, Policing, Remote Services, Science, Security, Technology | 1 Comment

Algorithms and Checklists May Help Deal With Implicit Bias

Posted on January 12, 2017 by richardzorza

While I am an advocate of algorithm driven processes in law, I still have a slightly queasy feeling about the whole idea.  It comes from the fear that outcomes are not going to be “far,” but are going to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Criminal Law, De-Regulation, Domestic Violence, Evictions, Legal Aid, Medical System Comparision, Non-Lawyer Practice, Outcome Measures, Science, Simplification, Systematic Change, Tools, Triage | Comments Off on Algorithms and Checklists May Help Deal With Implicit Bias

Claudia Johnson Guest Post: Appellate Courts show willingness to reverse decisions where due process and decisions are not explained in SRL cases—Are DV cases the canary and a natural for innovation?

Posted on July 20, 2016 by richardzorza

Multiple decisions have come to my attention where appellate courts are reversing trial courts on cases where one of the parties did not have a lawyer. All cases come from Domestic  Violence dockets. Is this a new trend for DV … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Appellate Practice, Document Assembly, Domestic Violence, Family Law, Guest Bloggers, Judicial Ethics, Self-Help Services | 1 Comment

New York Making Big Progress on Multi-Lingual Court Orders

Posted on October 13, 2015 by richardzorza

Many of us have long believed that creating multi-lingual court orders could have a big impact on compliance and court efficiency. The New York courts have recently started taking big steps in that direction.  As the press release says: In … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Document Assembly, Domestic Violence, LEP, Technology | 2 Comments

Another Mobile App to Get us Thinking About Potential

Posted on August 5, 2013 by richardzorza

The University of California at Irvine Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and neglect has released an app that might get us thinking. As described: Based on input from multidisciplinary community partners, we’ve created these useful features for this mobile … Continue reading →

Posted in Document Assembly, Domestic Violence, Mobile Technology, Technology | Comments Off on Another Mobile App to Get us Thinking About Potential

Moving Tribute to My Wife, Joan Zorza

Posted on July 24, 2013 by richardzorza

Many of you know that my wife, Joan Zorza, has dedicated her life to the victims of violence, most intensely to those impacted by domestic and sexual violence.  She is now in the process of retiring (although those of you … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Violence, Vocation | 5 Comments

Maryland ATJ Commission Uses Useful Techniques to Report on Economic Benefits of Legal Aid Advocacy

Posted on January 12, 2013 by richardzorza

The Maryland Access to Justice Commission has just released a Report detailing economic benefits to the state of legal aid. As detailed in the press release, the benefits are as follows: Brought $9.9 million in federal dollars into Maryland to … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Domestic Violence, Foreclosure, Legal Aid, Outcome Measures | 1 Comment

Post Election Implications for Access to Justice — Part I: Broad Themes

Posted on November 8, 2012 by richardzorza

This very much not an electoral politics blog.  But Tuesday had such strong implications for the access to justice discussion that I think it may be useful to start to think through some of the second level themes and implications … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Child Support, Court Management, Domestic Violence, LEP | 1 Comment

Joan Zorza Wall of Honor Established by End Violence Against Women International

Posted on July 17, 2012 by richardzorza

My general rule is not to promote fundraising on this blog.  But this is not business, it is personal. End Violence Against Women International has established a Wall of Honor, to honor the work of my wife Joan, because, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Violence | 1 Comment

Court Watching Pays Real Dividends

Posted on June 5, 2012 by richardzorza

Eight months ago, I blogged about a promising domestic violence court watching project in Montgomery County MD. Turns out the project has been a great success: “We’re very excited. Clearly there have been dramatic changes, and we are pleased with … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Violence, Judicial Ethics | Tagged | Comments Off on Court Watching Pays Real Dividends

Freedom from Domestic Violence as a Human Right

Posted on February 8, 2012 by richardzorza

This is a somewhat new approach that may change the legal framework in the long term. The Cincnatti City Council declared that freedom from domestic violence was a human right. Here is a link to the resolution. The key language … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Violence | 1 Comment

Court Simplification — Steps to Reduce Costs and Intrustiveness of Family Investigators — An Interesting Pioneer Step By the Colorado Supreme Court

Posted on April 22, 2011 by richardzorza

As reported by the Colorado Bar’s Legal Connection Blog, the Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice has modified, effective April 2011, the Directive on Child and Family Investigations, Chief Justice Directive 04-08. As the blog summarizes the changes they will: “Establish … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Domestic Violence, Research and Evalation, Systematic Change | Tagged , | Comments Off on Court Simplification — Steps to Reduce Costs and Intrustiveness of Family Investigators — An Interesting Pioneer Step By the Colorado Supreme Court

Do We Have Too High a Tolerance for Error in the Justice System?

Posted on April 8, 2011 by richardzorza

One plane pops a hole, no one is seriously hurt, and, as there should be, there’s saturation media coverage, immediate inspections of a portion of the fleet, and deep soul searching about our preventive systems. But DNA exonerations suggest that … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Domestic Violence, Research and Evalation, Systematic Change, Technology | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Risks and Consequences — Implications for Access Advocacy

Posted on March 14, 2011 by richardzorza

With all eyes fixed on Japan, it seems like a good time to reflect on risks and consequences.  (Actually, its hard for me to think about anything else, and it is fascinating how much traffic to this blog has dropped … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Domestic Violence, Foreclosure, Research and Evalation, This Blog | Tagged | 1 Comment