By Roy John Williams, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) The CFCC Student Fellows recently toured the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center (BCJJC). I was impressed by the aesthetic qualities of this massive but modern building. BCJJC is a beautiful facility with towering windows at the entrance that create a welcoming feeling. BCJJC is a one-stop shop…
By Andrew Siske, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Early on as a CFCC Student Fellow, I learned about therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ), which can be defined as “the study of the role of law as a therapeutic agent.”[1] TJ represents a normative understanding of law which aims to identify the beneficial and harmful consequences of law, with…
CFCC is excited to begin the new semester with ten second- and third-year law students enrolled in the CFCC Student Fellows Program. This experiential course provides students with an in-depth examination of the policies and theories surrounding family justice system reform and cutting edge issues in family law, including unified family courts, therapeutic jurisprudence, preventive…
By Laurie Culkin, CFCC Student Fellow 2015-2016 Over the summer, I had the privilege of working for attorneys who represent children in child abuse and neglect (Children in Need of Assistance -CINA) proceedings. The juvenile court in Baltimore City aims to keep each child in front of the same judge for all of their court…
By Bryan Upshur, CFCC Student Fellow 2014-2015 On one fateful day in Florida a man named Clarence Earl Gideon broke into a pool room with the intent to commit a misdemeanor.[1] This action constituted a felony in the state of Florida, and the man was charged with the crime. After being arrested, Gideon requested the…
By Tammy Vaughn, CFCC Student Fellow 2014-2015 In the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children, and the Courts Student Fellows Program class, we have learned about a variety of problem solving courts in Maryland. One recent creation are drug treatment courts, which in Maryland began under former Chief Judge Robert M. Bell’s administration.…
By Nicole Rush, CFCC Student Fellow 2014-2015 In 2012, there were over 1 million American soldiers in active duty across the world.[1] Luckily this number has dramatically decreased in the recent years, but that leaves the United States with a growing number of veterans returning from war trying to readjust to civilian life. Veterans have…
By Kevin Lauerman, CFCC Student Fellow 2014-2015 This semester I have graciously served as a Student Fellow for the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center For Children, Families, and the Courts. Throughout my involvement with this program, I have had the pleasure of interacting with enthusiastic Baltimore City students, classmates that share a similar passion for…
By Matthew LaFontaine, CFCC Student Fellow 2014-2015 Collaborative family law is a non-traditional type of dispute resolution that focuses on the unification of the parties in an efficient and therapeutic manner. Unlike the traditional litigation process, collaborative law negotiations occur outside the courtroom and commit to cooperation and honesty. This commitment to transparent communication encourages…