By Samantha Stephan, CFCC Student Fellow, Fall 2020 Child custody determinations are based on what is in the best interests of the child. Courts and the Maryland legislature have left the term “best interests of the child” defined broadly. Instead of a statutory definition containing specificity, which many states have, courts in Maryland consider a…
By Joshua Wade, CFCC Student Fellow, Fall 2020 DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION A license to practice law is a tool possessed by few. According to the American Bar Association’s National Lawyer Population Survey,[1] as of 2020 there are approximately 41,000 active attorneys in the state of Maryland. While on its face that number may seem high, when…
By Alyssa Smith, CFCC Student Fellow, Fall 2020 Problem-solving courts are specialized dockets, usually within the criminal justice system, that seek to address the underlying problem(s) contributing to certain criminal offenses.[1] Generally, a problem-solving court involves a close collaboration among a judge(s), attorney(s), advocates, and a community service team to develop a case plan and…
By Marie Jensine Marcelino, CFCC Student Fellow, Fall 2020 Therapeutic Jurisprudence (“TJ”) is a legal framework or lens designed to consider and promote individuals’ psychological well-being. Healing, not punishment, is essential to Therapeutic Jurisprudence. Evaluating and understanding that every legal decision creates consequences for the individuals involved in a legal proceeding is critical to TJ.…
By Caitlin Phillips, CFCC Student Fellow, Fall 2020 This semester I have had the opportunity to participate as a law clerk for the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC) Truancy Court Program. Over the past few weeks working with Baltimore City schools, I have heard parents voice concerns that…
By Jasmine Martinez, CFCC Student Fellow, Fall 2020 Maryland is one of several states that utilize drug treatment courts to assist those who are recovering from addiction. Drug treatment courts in the criminal context allow defendants to have a voice in their recovery plan and the power to control their lives. Rather than sentence…
By Neha Khan, CFCC Student Fellow, Fall 2020 The last week of September was the orientation for the majority of the Baltimore City schools participating in the Truancy Court Program (TCP) operated by the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC) at the University of Baltimore School of Law. As…
By Zoe James-Collins, CFCC Student Fellow, Fall 2020 The ability to feel the emotional weight of another person is a powerful—and often overwhelming—sensation. Learning how to transcend empathy from sensation alone into a useful social tool is imperative to optimizing relationships both within and without the legal profession. While many lawyers harbor a natural gift…
By David Ascencio Arevalo, CFCC Student Fellow, Fall 2020 The United States of America is a nation of immigrants. For many people, the American dream is to come to this country to work and have a better life for themselves and their children. When immigrants decide to come to the United States, either with documentation…