We’re in oral argument June 22 representing a survivor of domestic violence who was granted a five-year extension of her restraining order. Her abuser is appealing the extension arguing that the trial court made mistakes before arriving at their decision to extend the order. FVAP and our client believe the trial court was correct in their decision to extend the restraining order, and we will be arguing that in court on our survivor client’s behalf.
Announcements
Juneteenth
This Saturday, June 19 is Juneteenth.
“Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863.” -Juneteenth.com
Over the years, Juneteenth has become a time of celebration for the African American community to commemorate freedom and come together.
FVAP is proud to celebrate and center Juneteenth as part of our continued commitment to further racial justice and race equity. We know that the intersection of racial and gender oppression are central to the experiences of many, if not most, of our clients and potential clients, and we all work tirelessly each day to combat these oppressions.
Learn more about Juneteenth at www.Juneteenth.com.
FVAP to Train Court Staff
FVAP Advisory Board member, Professor Mindy Mechanic, and Staff Attorney, Cory Hernandez, will be presenting a training on June 3 called Domestic Abuse is More than Physical Violence: Examining the Role of Coercive Control. This training will focus on recently enacted Senate Bill 1141, which clarified the definition of “domestic violence” for getting a restraining order and for deciding child custody matters. Now the definition expressly includes coercive control as a form of domestic violence, which further clarifies how
nonphysical forms of harm can constitute abuse under the law.
Please note this training is not open to the public, and any court staff interested in attending should speak with their supervisors.
FVAP is honored to have been asked by the Judicial Council to train court staff.
FVAP Legal Director Shares in Interview Why Biden Must End Former Administration’s Asylum Restrictions for Domestic Violence Survivors
In an interview last week, FVAP’s Legal Director Nancy K.D. Lemon shared with KQED reporters why former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ restrictions on asylum for survivors of domestic violence threaten women’s rights. In 2018, Sessions refused to provide asylum to a survivor of domestic violence from El Salvador who had been abused by her ex-husband for over a decade, deciding that domestic violence is a private or personal crime and not a qualifying reason for asylum. However, violence against women is a deep-rooted societal problem that demands government intervention, and it’s common for survivors to come to the U.S. seeking refuge from abuse because law enforcement in their home country would not provide help. In fact, FVAP is currently representing a survivor of domestic violence who faced this same barrier to safety before coming to the U.S. We are hopeful that the new administration will loosen the current restrictions so that survivors fleeing abuse can get the safety and justice they deserve. Read more in KQED’s article here.
Staff Attorney – Housing Job Opening
About Family Violence Appellate Project
Family Violence Appellate Project (FVAP) is the only organization in California dedicated to appealing cases on behalf of survivors of domestic violence and other forms of intimate partner, family, and gender-based abuse. We are committed to social justice and are dedicated to shaping California law to prioritize the safety of survivors and their children by representing clients in the California Courts of Appeal, submitting amicus curiae briefs in cases of statewide importance, monitoring unpublished cases daily and requesting publication of important appellate cases, and engaging in legislative and systems change advocacy efforts. We are also committed to supporting the statewide network of advocates for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and legal aid service providers, by providing trainings, technical assistance, and written informational materials, and by facilitating information exchange among statewide stakeholders supporting survivors.
Since its inception in 2018, FVAP’s Housing and Employment Justice Program has expanded FVAP’s practice area by providing its services, trainings and resources to advocates and attorneys helping survivors with housing and employment issues, representing survivors in housing appeals, and engaging in policy and legislative advocacy to increase survivors’ access to safe housing and employment. If you are interested in being part of this exciting social justice movement and resource for domestic violence survivors and advocates across California, this is the place for you! You can learn more at www.fvaplaw.org.
Staff Attorney Job Opening
Family Violence Appellate Project is the only organization in California dedicated to appealing civil cases on behalf of survivors of domestic violence and other forms of intimate partner, family, and gender-based abuse. We are committed to social justice and are dedicated to shaping California law to prioritize the safety of survivors and their children by representing clients in the California Courts of Appeal, submitting amicus curiae briefs in cases of statewide importance, monitoring unpublished cases daily and requesting publication of important appellate cases, and engaging in legislative and systems change advocacy efforts. We are also committed to supporting the statewide network of advocates for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and legal aid service providers by providing trainings, technical assistance, and written informational materials, and by facilitating information exchange among statewide stakeholders supporting survivors. If you are interested in being part of this exciting social justice movement and resource for survivors and advocates across California, this is the place for you! You can learn more at www.fvaplaw.org.
FVAP is seeking a full-time attorney to join our exceptional and dynamic staff in our Oakland, California office. We value diverse experiences and backgrounds. FVAP’s clientele is extremely diverse, and we serve individuals and advocates throughout the state, including rural, suburban, and urban populations. The ideal candidate will bring skills and experiences enabling the candidate to serve these diverse populations adeptly in the context of appellate litigation. Any candidate must be willing to pitch in wherever needed to support a small nonprofit. The immediate supervisor is the Director of Programs.
