First Lady Katie O'Malley's Delivers Domestic Violence Lecture to University of Baltimore Law Students

 

BALTIMORE, MD (October 13, 2009) –First Lady, Judge Katie O’Malley today delivered a lecture on Maryland’s domestic violence laws before a group of over 150 law students from the University of Baltimore, part of former Attorney General Joseph Curran’s Law and Public Policy Series.  Judge O’Malley’s lecture focused on the legislative efforts over the last couple years and her experience as a Judge in Domestic Violence court.

“As a former prosecutor, and current Judge, I have seen first hand the detrimental effects of family violence.  For every single person that lives the horrifying reality of domestic violence, these statistics are so much more than just a number. This scourge extends beyond the walls of a home, weakening our schools, our communities and our entire State,” said Judge O’Malley.  “The passage of the legislation championed by Governor O’Malley, Lt. Governor Brown and Attorney General Doug Gansler, helps Judges like me take firearms out of the hands of abusers, putting us one step closer to reducing deaths caused by firearms, and improving public safety in our State.”

The Public Policy Series today also included a lecture by J. Joseph Curran, Jr., who discussed the background on Maryland’s efforts to develop laws to protect domestic violence victims; and a lecture by the Honorable Jeannie J. Hong, who is the presiding Judge in the Domestic Violence Court. 

In 2007, Maryland district court judges issued approximately 7,654 permanent protective orders.  From June 2008 through January 2009, only 132 respondents out of Maryland’s total respondents of final protective orders had regulated firearms registered with the Maryland State Police.  Of those 132 respondents only 12 had hunting licenses issued by the Department of Natural Resources.  In 2005, 1,181 women were killed by their intimate partners, accounting for over 30% of all murders of women.

October is national “Domestic Violence Awareness” month.  Last October, Governor O’Malley’s announced the award $1.8 million in STOP – Violence Against Women (VAWA) Federal funding grants to help victims of domestic violence. The Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention allocated those funds to 63 organizations and agencies across Maryland that encourage the development and strengthening of effective, victim-centered law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and enhance victim services that address violence against women statewide.

Judge O’Malley has been a steadfast advocate for the rights of victims of domestic violence.  For years, she has served in the fight to end domestic violence, including volunteering her time at House of Ruth.  She has participated in several House of Ruth functions, most recently “A Line in the Sand” – a display of interpretive portraits featuring the First Lady as one of 20 subjects who have made a significant impact in the fight against domestic violence.

 

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