Domestic Violence and Responsible Mediation:
A Critical Look at Screening and Safety

Sessions are intended for legal professionals and others

White Plains, N. Y. – October 11, 2004 -- The Women’s Justice Center (WJC) of the Pace University School of Law in conjunction with the Committee to Promote Gender Fairness in the 9^th Judicial District and the Westchester Women’s Bar Association will co-host an informative program entitled "Domestic Violence and Responsible Mediation: A Critical Look at Screening and Safety" at the New York State Judicial Institute, located at the Pace University School of Law, 78 North Broadway, White Plains, New York, Omni Room, on Wednesday, October 27, 2004, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Individual reservations are $85.00, which includes dinner and 2 CLE (continuing legal education) credits. For reservations or more information about the program, interested parties can contact James Bavero at (914) 422-4069.

Reflecting wide community interest in mediation within domestic violence cases, this program hopes to bring to light current knowledge about the nature and dynamics of domestic violence and whether and when mediation may be appropriate.

The evening’s panels of speakers reflect a range of perspectives including Westchester County’s Family Court, Integrated Domestic Violence Court, and New York State’s statewide ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Coordinator.

Hon. Joan O. Cooney, is now the Supervising Judge of the Family Court, Ninth Judicial District. While in the private practice of law, she concentrated in the areas of Family and Juvenile Law, serving as a law guardian for the Westchester County Family Court from 1977-1992. She became a leader in juvenile rights and responsibilities. Elected to Westchester County Family Court in 1992, Judge Cooney has presided in Yonkers Family Court, New Rochelle Family Court, and White Plains Family Court. As Supervising Judge since 1999, Judge Cooney started the first specialized Neglect and Abuse Part in the Ninth Judicial District to help foster children attain a permanent plan. Judge Cooney has also initiated a specialized Juvenile Delinquency Part and has worked to implement the Integrated Domestic Violence Part.

Hon. Daniel D. Angiolillo, is a Justice of the Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District of the State of New York and presides over the Integrated Domestic Violence Court in Westchester County, thereby presiding over criminal, family and matrimonial matters in addition to appellate cases. This court is the first of its kind in New York State and serves as a model for other domestic violence courts around the state. Prior to being elected to the Supreme Court, in 1993, Judge Angiolillo was elected as a County Court Judge in Westchester County. In 2003, he was appointed Associate Justice of the Appellate Term. Judge Angiolillo has further presided over New York State’s first Domestic Violence Felony/Misdemeanor Court since June 1999. He is a former prosecutor and current adjunct professor of law at Manhattanville College.

Daniel M. Weitz, Esq., is the Statewide ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Coordinator for the New York State Unified Court System. Mr. Weitz oversees a statewide program of court-annexed ADR initiatives involving mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation and summary jury trial. He also directs the Community Dispute Resolution Centers Program, which provides dispute resolution services as an alternative to civil, family, and minor criminal court litigation in all sixty-two counties of the State. Mr. Weitz has over twelve years of experience in the field of ADR, serving as administrator, professor, trainer, and practitioner. He is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Cardozo School of Law and has taught ADR and conflict resolution at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Long Island University. Mr. Weitz has served as a mediator in a wide range of matters, including, general civil, family, employment, human rights, community, and police conduct cases.

Beginning with an introduction by Susan L. Pollet, Esq., Executive Director of the Pace Women’s Justice Center, who will also serve as moderator of the panel, the evening’s discussion will take up Mediation in Family Court Mediation in Integrated Domestic Violence Part and will end Screening for Domestic Violence in Mediation Cases.

Founded in 1976, Pace Law School is a New York Law School with a suburban campus in White Plains, N.Y., 20 miles north of New York City. Part of Pace University, the school offers the J.D. program for full-time and part-time day and evening students. Its postgraduate program includes the LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees in Environmental Law and an LL.M. in Comparative Legal Studies. Pace has one of the nation's top-rated Environmental Law programs and its Clinical Education program also is nationally ranked, offering clinics in domestic violence prosecution, environmental law, securities arbitration, criminal justice and disability rights. www.law.pace.edu 

Pace is a comprehensive, independent university with campuses in New York City, Pleasantville and White Plains, NY and a Hudson Valley Center at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, NY. More than 14,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin School of Business, School of Computer Science and Information Systems, School of Education, Lienhard School of Nursing and Pace Law School. www.pace.edu