Domestic Violence Victim Fights for Her Name at the Supreme Court

Advocates for domestic violence victims are sounding a warning about a little-noticed U.S. Supreme Court case that they say could make it much harder for battered women and men to enforce restraining orders against their abusers. The case, set for argument Wednesday, challenges a D.C. law that allows victims themselves to bring criminal contempt charges when abusers infringe on a court order. The case asks the Court to decide in whose name these private prosecutions must be brought -- the victim's or the state's?

This article requires premium access

This article requires free registration to The National Law Journal. Please sign in or register to read the full text.