SAN FRANCISCO, CA - July 13, 2025 - This press release was prepared by 2025 President, Elisha Jussen Cooke.

Queen’s Bench Bar Association is proud to support two important advocacy efforts led by the Family Violence Appellate Project (FVAP) to strengthen legal protections for survivors of domestic violence.

First, Queen’s Bench signed on to FVAP’s letter supporting a proposed amendment to Rule 7.3 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct, which would prohibit attorneys from soliciting respondents in domestic violence restraining order (DVRO) cases before they have been served. Survivors often face the greatest risk of harm immediately after leaving an abusive relationship. Pre-service solicitation of restraining order respondents has led to service evasion and to survivors abandoning their restraining order requests because of a respondent’s coercion or intimidation—all of which compromise survivor safety and access to courts. The proposed amendment aligns with established public policy and ensures survivor safety is prioritized without compromising due process for respondents.

Queen’s Bench also joined FVAP in requesting publication of the appellate decision in D.V. v. Mohamed M.—an important and precedent-worthy case affirming a trial court’s issuance of a DVRO, dismissal of contempt charges, and award of sole custody to the survivor. The decision addresses several novel and underdeveloped areas of law, including:

• The standard for contempt charges for purported violations of a Temporary Restraining Order in the Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) context
• The statutory defense of coercion under Penal Code § 236.24(a)
• Use of expert testimony in DVRO cases 
• Admissibility of secretly recorded conversations under Penal Code § 633.6
• Recognition of immigration-related abuse as domestic violence

Together, these efforts reflect FVAP’s and Queen’s Bench’s shared commitment to advancing gender equity, improving access to justice, and building a trauma-informed legal system that empower survivors and protect their rights.

To learn more about FVAP’s work, visit www.fvaplaw.org.