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Crowded dockets delay CPO and ASO hearings in D.C.

Jamison KoehlerCivil Protection Orders, D.C. Superior Court, Domestic Violence

Presiding over civil protection order (CPO) and anti-stalking order (ASO) cases is one of the most demanding assignments for D.C. Superior Court judges.

Each morning, parties begin logging on at 8:30 a.m. The calendar typically includes 20 to 40 cases. Two judges—currently Judge McCabe in Courtroom 113 and Judge Truong in Courtroom 114—must move through that crowded docket while dealing with litigants who are often frustrated, angry, or confused.

Gavel on white backgroundMost parties are not represented by lawyers. As a result, judges must make sure that both sides understand and exercise their legal rights. In practice, this means judges must serve not only as the decision-makers but, to some extent, as guides for both petitioners and respondents.

Given those pressures—and the often emotional nature of these cases—it is not surprising that tempers can run hot.

The crowded docket also creates serious delays. Temporary protection orders generally may remain in effect for only 14 days, although that period can be extended to 28 days for good cause. Yet hearings on permanent or extended orders can sometimes be scheduled months into the future.

The problem is straightforward: there are too many cases for only two judges to handle efficiently.

Until D.C. Superior Court assigns additional judges to the CPO and ASO calendar, litigants will continue to face unnecessary delays, and judges will continue to operate under extraordinary pressure.