Perceiving Credibility: Judicial Decision-Making in Domestic Violence Protective Order Cases

Many women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) seek domestic violence protective orders (DVPOs) for secondary IPV prevention. Because judges have considerable autonomy making DVPO case decisions, there is a need to describe how courtroom interactions and information available to judges may influence DVPO dispositions. This webinar will discuss a qualitative research study that involved collecting and analyzing data from DVPO hearing observations and phone interviews with District Court Judges. The presentation will describe qualitative themes that may influence judges’ decision-making in DVPO hearings: case information availability, judge engagement level, and litigant credibility. Specific recommendations to enhance court processes and improve the experience of plaintiffs seeking DVPOs will be discussed.

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