Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project

A Stronger Voice for Justice

Despite the reforms of recent decades, battered women and children continue to face unfair treatment and troubling results in court. Appeals can overturn unjust trial court outcomes – but they require special expertise and are often prohibitively expensive.

We empower victims and their advocates by providing expert representation for appeals; educating pro bono counsel through in-depth consultation and mentoring; training lawyers, judges, and others on cutting-edge issues; and spearheading the DV community's advocacy in Supreme Court cases.

To learn more about DV LEAP's programs, click here. To get involved or to make a tax-deductible contribution, follow this link.  To learn about upcoming DV LEAP events, click here.

  


Joan Meier quoted in article about abuse allegations in custody cases

The article examines the reasons why family courts do not adequately address abuse allegations and how that leads to their ultimate failure to protect children in custody cases. 

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Joan Meier Submits Comment to the DSM Regarding "Parental Alienation Syndrome"

 Joan Meier speaks out against including "Parental Alienation Syndrome" in the DSM-5.

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DV LEAP's work on an upcoming Supreme Court case featured in Law.com article.

The article, which examines the issue of private prosecutions in domestic violence cases, also quotes Executive Director Joan Meier.

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DV LEAP in the News

DV LEAP's Executive Director Joan Meier was quoted in an Op-Ed piece penned by Eileen King from Justice for Children...

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DV LEAP Files Cutting-Edge Alienation Brief

DV LEAP recently filed an appeal in a case in D.C. which is on the cutting-edge of the dominant issue in family courts - parental alienation.

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