New domestic abuse court in Washington county 10-11-2010

PLANNING BEGAN MONDAY NIGHT FOR A NEW DOMESTIC ABUSE COURT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. THE HONORABLE MARIE WILSON CHANCELLOR WITH THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CHANCERY COURT HOSTED A PLANNING MEETING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOMESTIC ABUSE COURT. THE SESSION WAS HELD IN THE FIRST FLOOR CHANCERY COURTROOM IN THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. JUDGE WILSON AND THE ASSEMBLED PLANNERS, WHICH INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL LEVELS OF PARTICIPATING COURTS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, THE BAR AND CLERGY, ALL GATHERED TO LISTEN TO THE PROCESS AND HOW THE NEW COURT IS EXPECTED TO WORK. THE COURT IS EXPECTED TO COORDINATE A PROGRAM WHICH WILL ACCEPT REFERRALS OF VICTIMS AND DEFENDANTS FROM MUNICIPAL, JUSTICE, COUNTY AND CIRCUIT COURTS.  THE PLANNING SESSION INCLUDED A SERIES OF VIDEOS ALONG WITH A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION. THE DOMESTIC ABUSE COURT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY IS THE FIRST SUCH COURT IN THE STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.