By Taylor LoSchiavo, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Any legal proceeding has the potential to be life changing; however, family law proceedings, in particular, can change the basic family structure for the parties. One family can become two, which could then become three or more families. This is not to suggest that such a division is…
By Samantha Hugo, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Why does society look down on the practice of family law? When did family law practitioners fall into disfavor? Is it because of a misconception that family law cases cover an area that society believes is insignificant? Family law attorneys are often dismissed as social workers in comparison…
By Alexandra Hilton, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Truancy in Baltimore City is a major and pervasive problem. Youth are “truant” when they miss school for unexcused reasons, such as inclement weather, family holidays, and babysitting family members, among others. Many believe that the most effective approach to chronic unexcused absence is to punish or coerce…
By Marleigh Davis, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) When I reflect on what I learned in my first year of law school, what comes to mind is reading and discussing judicial opinions in cases that already had been litigated and decided. What is not often discussed in class is what happens prior to litigation. I interned…
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 Hope Keller, Director of Communications The University of Baltimore’s Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts held its Eighth Annual Urban Child conference, “Education and the Urban Child,” on April 7, 2016. Keynote speaker James Cole Jr., general counsel of the U.S. Department of Education, discussed the importance of taking…
The spirit of giving in support of families participating in the Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC) Truancy Court Program is always alive and well, but this holiday season, two enterprising members of University of Baltimore’s Black Law Student Association (BLSA) raised that spirit to a new level. Sheena Williams inspired her friend…
By James Torrence, CFCC Student Fellow (2015-2016) As America moves toward criminal justice reform, we must consider preventive measures to ensure that vulnerable children and teenagers do not enter the criminal justice system. Many have called on policymakers and school administrators to reform school disciplinary practices, such as zero-tolerance policies, in the face of research…
By Danielle Wiggins, CFCC Student Fellow 2015-2016 Truancy is a major issue here in Baltimore City public schools. Research shows that the students most likely to be chronically truant come from low-income families.[1] During my time as a Student Fellow in the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts (“CFCC”) Program,…