School of Law's Center for Families, Children and the Courts Marks 10-Year Anniversary, March 3
February 10, 2011
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
The University of Baltimore School of Law's Center for Families, Children and the Courts—home to a number of pathbreaking initiatives to reform the country's family justice system, foster therapeutic interventions in resolving family crises, and improve the management of everyday issues that lead to serious community problems like truancy—will celebrate its 10-year anniversary with two special events on Thursday, March 3. Both events will take place in the School of Law's Venable Baetjer Howard Moot Court Room, located in the school at 1415 Maryland Ave.
Beginning at noon, the school will host a Lunchtime Law session entitled "Therapeutic Jurisprudence: A Family-Friendly Approach." The Hon. Peggy Fulton Hora, a retired judge from the Superior Court of Alameda County, Cal., and David B. Wexler, distinguished research professor emeritus of law at the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, will discuss the use of non-punitive techniques designed to assist families going through the legal process. Hora will speak on "Healing Families Through the Courts." Wexler's topic is "Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Family-Friendly Criminal Law Practice." Lunch will be served.
This program is free and open to the public, and no R.S.V.P. is required.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., a celebration of CFCC's first decade will take place, also in the Moot Court Room. Invited guests who will briefly offer reflections from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. on the center's successes include the following:
- The Hon. Robert Bell, chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals. Chief Judge Bell and the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts have supported CFCC’s efforts in family court reform, the Truancy Court Program, Unified Family Courts, and other CFCC initiatives.
- The Hon. Catherine Curran O'Malley, first lady of Maryland and Baltimore City District Court judge. Judge O’Malley has served as a volunteer judge for CFCC’s Truancy Court Program since its inception in 2005.
- The Hon. Peggy Fulton Hora, Alameda County, Cal. Superior Court (ret.), an international authority on drug treatment courts and problem-solving courts. Judge Hora’s groundbreaking scholarship and assistance have informed CFCC’s mission and work.
- David Wexler, professor emeritus of law at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law and director of the International Network on Therapeutic Jurisprudence at the University of Puerto Rico. Wexler is the co-founder of therapeutic jurisprudence, a central tenet of CFCC’s many activities.
- Sayra Wells Meyerhoff, J.D. '78, M.S. '04, a member of the University of Baltimore Foundation Board of Directors, the Law Advisory Council, and the University of Baltimore's Uniquely UB capital campaign committee. Meyerhoff has provided invaluable guidance to CFCC as it has developed its mission and strategy.
- Leigh Dalton, J.D. '08, former CFCC Student Fellow and consultant. Dalton was a CFCC Student Fellow while attending law school at UB and also served as the center's Truancy Court Program manager.
Barbara A. Babb, associate professor in the School of Law and director of the Center for Families, Children and the Courts, will be joined by Joseph S. Wood, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs at the University of Baltimore, and John A. Lynch, Jr., associate dean of the School of Law, in offering a welcome and opening remarks at the start of the program.
A cocktail reception in the law school lobby will follow from 6:30 until 8 p.m.
The evening event is free and open to the public; an R.S.V.P. must be received no later than Feb. 25.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Public Affairs and the Merrick School of Business.