Baltimore City to Host Tour of Integrated Domestic Violence Court
Community leaders to view services offered by Eastside District Court

(BALTIMORE, Md. – January 30, 2006) – In order to further educate the public regarding its new integrated domestic violence court, the District Court of Maryland will host a tour for elected officials and community leaders at noon on February 6 at the Eastside District Court, 1400 E. North Avenue. The event is open to invited guests and media.

Members of the committee charged with the development and planning of the integrated domestic violence court will be on hand to answer questions regarding the pilot program, which officially launched December 1, 2005. The program was designed to promote victim safety, ensure ongoing compliance with court orders, and improve tracking of companion criminal and civil cases involving domestic violence.

As a result of the project, all civil domestic violence hearings previously held at the Civil Courthouse at 501 E. Fayette St. moved to the Eastside District Court. In addition, assistant state’s attorneys assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit and House of Ruth representatives are now present during civil proceedings to assist those involved in domestic violence cases.

“I feel progress in this transition has gone relatively smoothly so far,” said Baltimore City District Court Judge Jeannie Hong, who is in charge of the Eastside District Court.

The integrated court came after a year of work from the committee that included representatives from the District Court, Circuit Court for Baltimore City, court commissioners, court clerks, Judicial Information Systems, Baltimore City Police Department, Baltimore City Sheriffs’ Department, State’s Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, and the House of Ruth. Chief Judge Ben C. Clyburn of the District Court of Maryland first developed the concept while serving as an associate judge in Baltimore City.

Prior to this move, domestic violence victims went to separate courthouses for civil and criminal proceedings. The Eastside District Court was selected for the program because the location already has a full-time, specialized domestic violence court. The Civil Courthouse handled 10,961 combined civil protective and peace order cases in 2004.

Members of the media are invited to attend. Cameras will be permitted in the courthouse except in courtrooms during official proceedings. For more information, please contact the Court Information Office at (410) 260-1488.

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