Members of Congress Join Legal Services Corporation for Virtual Briefing on Domestic Violence During the Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON – The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) will hold a virtual briefing on Domestic Violence and Civil Legal Services during the Coronavirus Pandemic on Monday, May 11, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ET.  

Millions of Americans experience domestic violence every year and low-income survivors are particularly vulnerable. Legal aid organizations prevent future violence by obtaining and enforcing protective orders in court. Survivors rate the filing of a protective order as one of the two most effective tools for stopping domestic violence, second only to leaving the abuser. These organizations also secure child custody orders for clients. 

The need for these services is more critical than ever. Experts who have studied the spike in domestic violence that accompanies natural disasters expect to see a similar increase during this period of social distancing and quarantine. Families are under many of the same pressures: job loss, strained finances and disconnection from resources and social support systems. Domestic violence hotlines are already reporting increases in calls.

The briefing will explore how legal services providers are helping domestic survivors in the face of COVID-19.

Representatives Susan W. Brooks (IN-5), Gwen Moore (WI-4) and David Price (NC-4) will join Supreme Court of North Carolina Chief Justice Cheri Beasley to deliver remarks. They will be joined by LSC Board Chair John G. Levi.

LSC President Ronald S. Flagg will moderate a conversation with civil legal services providers and a magistrate judge. The speakers will include Kate Aldrich, Staff Attorney, Legal Action of Wisconsin; Chief Judge Wanda L. Dallas, Magistrate Court of Clayton County, Georgia; Julianna Lee, Supporting Families Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles; TeAndra Miller, Project Director/Managing Attorney, Statewide Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Project, Legal Aid of North Carolina; and Sarah M. White, Director, Clayton Family Advocacy Office, Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

Following the panel, LSC Leaders Council Co-Chair Harriet Miers, a Partner with Locke Lord LLP and former White House Counsel, will provide closing remarks.

To join the briefing via Zoom, click here and use meeting ID 885-3442-0650 and password Justice74. The briefing will also be livestreamed on LSC's Facebook page. You can follow the conversation on Twitter with #LSCDV.