CONFERENCE OF CHIEF JUSTICES
CONFERENCE OF STATE COURT ADMINISTRATORS

Resolution 13
In Support of Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act

WHEREAS, the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators have, in previous resolutions, expressed their support for efforts to address the problem of violence against women in our society; and 

WHEREAS, the Conferences, by bringing together Chief Justices and Court Administrators, have contributed to the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by supporting education programs, technical assistance, and information sharing that meets the needs of individual states; and

WHEREAS, several legislative proposals have been introduced in the 109th Congress to reauthorize VAWA through fiscal year 2010; and 

WHEREAS, these legislative proposals include the establishment of a new grant program for training judges and court personnel, the expansion of the full faith and credit provision to include protective orders issued by territories, and other systemic improvements; and 

WHEREAS, Congress has over the years authorized and appropriated federal funds to assist states in implementing the VAWA provisions; and 

WHEREAS, in the Violence Against Women Act of 2000, Congress specifically recognized the important role of courts and added “State and local courts” as eligible grantees for STOP grants and grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders; and 

WHEREAS, state courts have been prohibited from directly applying for other federal grant programs because “courts” are not included in the definition of “state and local units of government” in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conferences support the continuation of the 5% set-aside within the STOP grant to assist state courts to more effectively address domestic violence cases, and the Conferences encourage Congress to provide funds directly to state courts when the purpose of the funds is to assist state courts to implement the provisions of VAWA; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conferences urge Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and provide sufficient federal funding to support the goals and objectives of the Act; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conferences further urge Congress to amend the definition of “state and local units of government” in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include state and local courts. 


Adopted as proposed by the CCJ/COSCA Courts, Children, and Families Committee at the 57th Annual Meeting on August 3, 2005.

Bylaws | Mission | Policy Statements & Resolutions | History
 Member Roster | Reports | Search | Home