Media Advisory:
Baltimore City Veterans Treatment Court celebrates graduates, three-year anniversary

United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie Jr. and U.S. Army veteran and Co-Founder/CEO of
Badges United Foundation Kim DeFiori will address the graduates

Approximately seven participants in the Baltimore City Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) will be recognized for their successful completion of the program on Tuesday, November 13, at a ceremony presided over by District Judge Halee Weinstein. The ceremony will also celebrate the court’s three-year anniversary and recognize Veteran’s Day.

Judge Weinstein, a veteran herself, founded VTC in 2015 as a court supervised, comprehensive, and voluntary treatment based program for veterans charged with misdemeanor and concurrent jurisdiction felonies in the District Court. VTC’s mission is to serve the community and increase public safety by integrating and incorporating a coordinated treatment response for veterans with substance use disorders and/or mental health issues. More than 55 participants have completed the program to date.

The VTC graduates will be joined by family, friends, judges, prosecutors, and community partners. Keynote speakers include United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie Jr. and U.S. Army veteran and Co-Founder/CEO of Badges United Foundation Kim DeFiori.

WHO: Baltimore City District Judge Halee Weinstein, presiding
Chief Judge John P. Morrissey, District Court of Maryland
Baltimore City District Administrative Judge Barbara Baer Waxman 
Robert Wilkie Jr., United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Kim DeFiori, U.S. Army veteran and Co-Founder/CEO of Badges United Foundation
United Way of Central Maryland
Warrior Canine Connection
Baltimore City VTC graduates

WHAT: Baltimore City VTC graduation ceremony and anniversary celebration

WHEN: Tuesday, November 13, 2:00 p.m.
              (Please note: Guests may begin arriving at 1:45 p.m.)

WHERE: Baltimore City District Court
Eastside District Courthouse, Courtroom 7
1400 E. North Avenue
Baltimore, Md. 21213

NOTE: Please contact the Maryland Judiciary’s Government Relations and Public Affairs Division by email at [email protected] if you plan to attend or have questions. The use of cameras inside the courtroom will be limited. Photographers will be allowed to take pictures of the graduates with Judge Weinstein in front of the military flags, but pictures are not permitted while the judge is on the bench. Photographers will be allowed to take still photography and/or video outside of the courtroom, but those requests must be approved in advance. Photographers must ask participants for their consent prior to taking pictures and/or video.

WATCH THE VIDEO: To learn more about VTC and its mission, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibUut-MA_jY

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