The National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project
What Judges, Attorneys, and Prosecutors Need to Know About How VAWA Confidentiality Impacts Discovery in Cases Involving Immigrant Survivors
Presented by Hon. Mary Weir, Jane Anderson, and Leslye Orloff
Friday, October 14th, 2022
10 a.m. PDT / 11 a.m. MDT / 12 p.m. CDT / 1 p.m. EDT
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) confidentiality offers federal immigration law protections enacted to prevent perpetrators from learning about, interfering with, and obtaining information contained in survivors’ victim-based applications for immigration relief (VAWA, Battered Spouse Waiver, U and T visa cases). The faculty (judge, former prosecutor, family lawyer) will discuss how courts, prosecutors and attorneys should respond when offenders seek discovery of VAWA confidentiality protected information in criminal, family, and civil court cases. Best practices for anticipating, preparing for, and addressing VAWA confidentiality discovery issues in a manner that promotes and protects victim safety and offender accountability will be highlighted. Attendees will receive up-to-date VAWA confidentiality case law; DHS policies, and practice pointers.
Faculty
- Hon. Mary Weir, Jackson County, Missouri, Associate Circuit Judge
- Jane Anderson, Attorney Advisor, AEquitas
- Leslye Orloff, Director, NIWAP
Target Audience
This webinar is designed for judges, prosecutors, victims’ family and civil lawyers, victim advocates, and OVW grantees.