|
|
Meet Harris
The Silver Spring office has a new receptionist. He has orange stripes, fur, and a tail. Harris is a one-year-old orange tabby cat that Eileen adopted last year. He joins her in the office almost daily, greeting visitors, playing with the children of clients, filing paperwork, and whatever other tasks need to be supervised. He is the sweetest boy, and loves his job! He especially loves playing chase games with the kids that visit. Welcome Harris!
| | | |
CJI Executive Director Makes "Herstory" in Montgomery County | Eileen King (center) with fellow award winner Sec. of State Susan C. Lee (left) and CJI friend Brad Clark (right) at the Women Making History Awards | |
Child Justice Founder and Executive Director Eileen King was recognized as a Woman Making History by the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women this month. The awards are given in recognition of outstanding women in Montgomery County who are making significant contributions to their vocations and to the community. Check out the event photos here.
Congratulations, Eileen!
|
Certiorari Granted in Katz Case |
The Supreme Court of Maryland granted certiorari in a watershed expert witness case in which Child Justice, Inc. as amicus curiae, argued that courts must be allowed to exclude expert opinions based on junk data. CJI attorneys motioned the high court for leave to file an amicus brief on the merits, which was granted this month. The high court is expected to hear oral arguments in May. Stay tuned! | Coercive Control in the News |  | |
Courts may no longer order mediation in custody cases involving coercive control. This is excellent news for victims of coercive control in Maryland.
Maryland’s Rule 9-205 has also been modified with a new definition of coercive control. Child Justice helped draft the new definition. At first, the definition presented to the Committee required “force or threat of force.” Child Justice objected to this definition because as many of you know, coercive control does not always include force or threat of force. As such, the Supreme Court remanded the issue for further consideration.
Upon remand, the Committee developed this new definition for coercive control:
“A pattern of emotional or psychological manipulation, maltreatment, threat of force, or intimidation used to compel an individual to act, or refrain from acting, against the individual’s will.”
The full text of the 211th Report is linked here.
The Maryland Family Law Update covered this needed change in its January edition. The article includes quotes from CJI's Executive Director and Legal Director, and is linked below.
|  | |
|
Did you know that e-discovery is a critical component of complex litigation cases? Child Justice was fortunate to receive a grant for e-discovery services through Relativity's Justice for Change program.
With access to e-discovery technology we can review documents faster, keep track of information more efficiently, handle higher case volumes, take on more complex cases and be better prepared to take cases to court.
In this article by Sarah Martinson of Law360, CJI Executive Director Eileen King, and Case Manager Cynthia Cummings, explain why access to Relativity is a game changer for our clients.
| Meet the CJI Board of Directors | Pictured from Left to Right: David Dorey, Esq., Vice Chair Anne Hoyer, Treasurer Steven Schneebaum, Esq., Secretary Cynthia McCann, Esq., Brandon Thomas, and Board Chair Daniel Campos, MBA | |
The Child Justice Board of Directors is the legal and governing entity of the organization. Quite simply, we couldn't function without them. The board currently consists of Board Chair Daniel Campos, MBA, Vice Chair Anne Hoyer, Secretary Cynthia McCann, Esq., Treasurer Steven Schneebaum, Esq., Brandon Thomas, and David Dorey, Esq.
We are grateful to this group of six professionals who are wholly committed to serving the mission of Child Justice, and volunteer their valuable time!
In January, the CJI Board of Directors held its annual retreat to discuss goals for 2023, and decided it is time to expand. If you or someone you know is interested in serving on our board, please respond to this email for additional information.
| |
CJI staff often receive notes of appreciation from clients at the conclusion of their case. We recently received a lovely note and a thoughtful gift that brought tears to our eyes. The note in part reads:
"Thank you so much for creating a life-line for those of us who weren't protected. Thanks to you, and your courage to make a miracle like Child Justice, we can now learn to breathe again. None of the protection we enjoy today could have happened if it wasn't for you..."
Also received was a key ring with an angel wing (pictured below), which reads: "You fought for me and changed my world." On the reverse, it reads: "Believer and Protector of Children"
| It brings us joy to make an impact on the lives of our clients and their children. Thanks to you, our supporters and funders, we will continue to believe and protect children in an effort to change their world. | | |
New Way to Support Child Justice | | |
Givebacks Fundraising to Replace AmazonSmile | |
You may have heard that Amazon ended its AmazonSmile fundraising program last month. Many of you have supported Child Justice generously in the past years by using this program, which donated a portion of sales. The end of this program creates a gap that we need your help to fill.
We have found a new way for you to shop while generously designating a portion of regular spending to Child Justice! Givebacks is a magical new cashback program and includes more than 25,000 participating merchants. To learn more and sign up, visit: https://www.givebacks.com/join/CJI.
Don't want to bother with shopping? Make a donation of $10 to help fill the gap. Thank you for supporting Child Justice!
| | |
Join CJI at The Blue Ribbon Project's Family Open House on 4/15 | | | |
|
Family Fun in Crownsville | |
Child Justice has signed up to participate as a vendor at this family friendly event in support of our friends at The Blue Ribbon Project. We hope you will join us for a wonderful day. The open house will be held Saturday, April 15, 11am-3pm.
CJI Board Member and Author Anne Hoyer will be at the CJI table signing copies of Stop the Silence: Thriving After Child Sexual Abuse. This newly released book is a collaboration that brings together real stories and powerful tools from practitioners and survivors who have been on the front lines of the fight for justice and healing.
| | | | | |
