November Family Law Breakfast Features Judges Castellani and Gordon

by Louis Tessler

The Family Law Section breakfast on Nov. 4 was well attended and focused on family violence. First to speak was Superior Court Judge Robert J. Castellani, who (uniquely) hears all family violence petitions associated with cases assigned to his division. He discussed the improvement in the law associated with family violence, specifically the statutory authorization for rapid, efficient and effective family violence protective orders. Previously, parties involved in violent or threatening situations were obligated to use criminal proceedings – assault and battery charges – to deter violence. This was too often ineffective. Judge Castellani also discussed the difficulties unique to protective orders, including the tactical exploitation of restraining orders in domestic litigation, the high likelihood of the victim protecting the aggressor, and the ethical difficulties in representing an alleged aggressor.

State Court Judge Janice Gordon followed Judge Castellani and discussed her role in curbing family violence in DeKalb. Several programs created by the judge address such issues. These programs, which are actually courses in managing and reducing family conflict and violence, are available in court- and jail-administered forms, and give the court an additional measure to employ in reducing family violence.

Finally, an assistant solicitor and representative of the Women’s Resource Center spoke to the group and described some of the protections available in DeKalb County, including the Women’s Resource Center Safehouse program, which provides a safe shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, and Nia’s Place, which provides supervised child visitation and exchange for families affected by domestic violence.

There will be no Family Law Section breakfast in December. We look forward to seeing you all again for our breakfasts the first Thursday of every month in the Harrison Room at the historic Old Courthouse in downtown Decatur. The next breakfast will be Jan. 6. All are welcome.