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Family Justice Center discussed at Marquette seminar

By: dmc-admin//November 19, 2007//

Family Justice Center discussed at Marquette seminar

By: dmc-admin//November 19, 2007//

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ImageA Milwaukee Justice Center on the scale originally imagined by District 1 Chief Judge Kitty K. Brennan likely will not materialize, but she is nonetheless optimistic about the potential alternative.

The Community Justice Council, which includes Brennan, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, District Attorney John Chisholm and County Executive Scott Walker, has been talking about developing a Family Justice Center.

If and when that may occur is unknown Brennan said, but discussion has coincided with her efforts to combine Family and Children’s Court.

“I have for the last year, been trying to unify the courts and bring Children’s Court back downtown,” said Brennan, who was a panelist for a community and justice session held during the Restorative Justice Initiative Conference on Nov. 13. “We were talking, loosely, about having child neglect, maybe domestic violence as well as Family and Children’s Court cases all in the same center.”

Brennan’s initial vision of “one-stop shopping” for pro se litigants included small claims actions, but that is not expected to be included as discussions have focused on a Family Justice Center. She sees Family Court as a good place to start those pro se support efforts. As reported by the Access to Justice Study, in excess of 83 percent of Family Court cases and 99 percent of paternity cases involve pro se litigants.

Brennan noted that the Family Justice Center would follow the same model proposed for a community justice center in terms of getting the same people in front of the same judge who knows a family and its problems and can provide access to the appropriate services.

“I was hoping for something even bigger than a Family Justice Center, but I’ll take what I can get and this would be an excellent first step,” said Brennan. “There appears to be some momentum and we’ll start there.”

Mayor Barrett noted that in order for a Family Justice Center to become a reality, it will take not only public, but private contribution, both financially and otherwise.

“We already have a fledgling community justice council started in Milwaukee, but I’m reluctant to over-promise,” said Bar-rett. “If this works, this Family Justice Center, it’s not going to resolve all the challenges we have, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take the step.”

Development of a Family Justice Center was one of several topics addressed at the conference sponsored by Marquette University Law School.

The day-long conference featured several speakers and panels that discussed ways to curb violence in Milwaukee, alternatives to incarceration and how to effectively nurture positive relationships between police and the community.

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