Notes from practice · D.C. Superior Court
D.C. Civil Protection Order Denied After Trial
Koehler Law won D.C. civil protection order trial alleging stalking. Learn how First Amendment protections affected the outcome....
Another win in D.C. Superior Court anti-stalking order (ASO) trial
Jamison Koehler
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09/22/2026
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Koehler Law prevailed yesterday at another trial in the Domestic Violence Division of D.C. Superior Court. The court denied an anti-stalking order (ASO) petition filed...
Respondent in CPO case awarded attorney fees in D.C.
A Koehler Law client was recently reimbursed for his attorney fees after prevailing as the respondent in a civil protection order (CPO) case in Washington,...
“True Threats” and Stalking in Rokhvand v. Herzfeld
The D.C. Court of Appeals recently clarified what constitutes a “true threat” for purposes of the District’s stalking statute. In Rokhvand v. Herzfeld, 2026 D.C. App....
Why settle a civil protection or anti-stalking order case in D.C.?
The petition for a civil protection order (CPO) against a Koehler Law client was dismissed recently after the parties reached an out-of-court settlement. Our client no longer...
D.C. Court dismisses petition for anti-stalking order
People seek anti-stalking orders (ASOs) in Washington, D.C. for many different reasons. Some petitions involve conduct that legitimately falls within the protections provided by the...
Crowded dockets delay CPO and ASO hearings in D.C.
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,...
Should your CPO/ASO case “trail” your criminal matter?
Domestic violence charges in criminal court are frequently accompanied by a petition for a civil protection order (CPO) or anti-stalking order (ASO). This is because...
Should I consent to a “CPO without admissions?”
If you are the Respondent in a civil protection order case, everyone else involved in the proceedings will want you to agree to a “consent...
Extending a civil protection order in D.C.
In order to extend a civil protection order (CPO) in Washington, D.C., the petitioner must show “good cause” that the protective order is still needed....
Narrowing the scope of D.C.’s stalking statute in Mashaud v. Boone
Jamison Koehler
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07/14/2023
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In Mashaud v. Boone, the D.C. Court of Appeals limited the scope of unprotected speech under District’s stalking statute to threats, obscenity, defamation, fraud, incitement,...
Quashing a CPO Petition in D.C.
The court’s ability to hear a CPO matter in Washington, D.C. requires proof of an “intra-family offense” with sufficient connection to the District....
Cross-examining a pro se petitioner in a CPO case
Trying a case — in this case, a CPO hearing — against an unrepresented party is always an experience....
New CPO law takes effect in D.C.
Jamison Koehler
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05/04/2021
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D.C.’s new law on civil protection orders (CPOs) redefines the category of people eligible for protection. It also extends coverage to animals, minors and victims...
Assessing attorney fees in CPO cases in D.C.
Parties who prevail in a CPO hearing can file a motion asking the court to assess legal fees against the other party. Respondents must prove...