Open Season In Annapolis

It's ugly in Annapolis this year. We're only two weeks into the 2010 Legislative Session and it appears it's open season on victims of domestic violence. Things got especially tense on January 21 over a bill sponsored by Delegate Michael D. Smigiel that would require judges to explain to respondents (translation: abusers) the consequences of agreeing to a protective order. The House Of Ruth Maryland testified that the information judges would have to provide would discourage consent, force victims to testify more often in court and delay the imposition of protective orders. The Maryland Judiciary seconded that and added, "Requiring judges to provide advice of rights in a civil proceeding...blurs the role of judge and criminal defense attorney."

However, Del. Smigiel and the bill's other supporters remained adamant that the bill was not biased. Stephan Moylan, an assistant public defender in Garrett County argued in support, saying that respondents often come to court without lawyers and aren't given the information they need to understand the terms they are consenting to - like having to surrender their hunting rifles and other guns. "The important consequence for someone in Garrett County," says Moylan, "is that folks can't fill their freezers with deer meat."

Correct, Mr. Moylan - no deer meat and, hopefully, no more dead wives and girlfriends.