How well is the Violence Against Women Act going in 2026?
For some (namely those whose client's walked away with bad outcomes), the Act may be controversial. In the last couple of years, we're had an explosion of civil domestic violence appeals, a nearly 200% increase by my count, since 2023. This suggested increased volatility when it comes to trial level outcomes. At least in the state I practice in (Illinois).
Another concerning issue was the number of appeals that self-implode. Yes, many were pro se. But the guide covers a number that involved attorneys who put their client behind the 8-ball when it came to handling the appeal. One wonders if the current economic squeeze is compelling some to learn new business at their client's expense.
Domestic Violence Caselaw 2023-Present
Which is why the DV guide now includes an appellate/post judgment checklist to help prevent the most common mistakes I'm seeing. It's free (I'm not selling anything, there's no mailing list, etc). Just figured I'd share it for those who might be interested. If it's something you want to check out, download info is coming out on the YouTube channel in the next day or so: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZnBPzp97oUHUCN5Y5WFe-g/
