Lifeline to Justice

In 2023, FVAP expanded its core appellate advocacy model to create the Lifeline to Justice Program, focused on increasing the accessibility of appellate-level writ review for survivors in California.

A writ petition is an emergency request for the appellate court to intervene in a case and command the trial court to either do something or stop doing something that’s legally erroneous and harmful.

Writs for survivors are vital because writs are designed for limited extraordinary circumstances where a survivor has no other way to challenge a wrongful trial court order, something that happens frequently and can put a survivor at risk of irreparable harm. However, because writs are an emergency remedy, the standard for a successful writ is discretionary, and the appellate court can deny relief without any explanation. Writs also operate on an expedited timeline and are often inaccessible to survivors because they are complicated to pursue.

Lifeline to Justice breaks down these barriers, building on FVAP’s existing models of direct representation, community collaboration and education, and free resources. The program empowers survivors to pursue writ petitions confidently and provides access across California .

Special thanks to Equal Justice Works, Greenberg Traurig, LLP and The Clorox Company Foundation for providing the initial fellowship to start this ongoing project.