Story of Justice: CCLA Asserts Emily’s Victim’s Rights & Gets Her Protection

Emily, a resilient woman in her 30s, endured a tumultuous relationship with her husband, John. During their marriage, it became clear to Emily that John struggled with serious mental health issues. His refusal to seek consistent treatment made life unpredictable and frightening for Emily and her child from a previous relationship. One evening, John’s behavior became particularly concerning. He left their apartment without explanation, acting strangely, and Fearing he may harm himself, or worse, harm her, her child, or her family close by, Emily went out to find him.

After searching the neighborhood, Emily found John nearby. She tried to keep him calm and she pleaded with him to come home. As they ascended the stairs to their apartment, a loud bang echoed in the stairwell. Emily felt a sharp sensation on her head, followed by a piercing pain in her hand. She turned to see John holding a gun, having shot at her twice. Reacting instinctively, she raced to their apartment and immediately called the police. John was soon arrested and charged with multiple counts, including attempted murder in the first-degree.

Throughout the criminal case, CCLA represented Emily as her victim’s rights attorney. CCLA’s attorney advocated for Emily’s wishes throughout the lengthy criminal process. She made it clear that she wanted no contact with John, who was eventually sentenced to seven years in prison, followed by fifteen years of probation with Emily’s input. Despite his incarceration, Emily felt that she needed more protection, as the emotional and physical scars from the incident still haunted her. Her CCLA attorney advised Emily that, although a significant amount of time had passed since the incident, we could pursue an Injunction for Protection to protect her further.

Knowing it might be a challenge to convince a judge to issue a protective order so long after the incident, CCLA’s attorney contacted John’s attorney to negotiate a resolution and obtain a restraining order for Emily. To their relief, John agreed to the terms of a Final Judgment of Injunction for Protection until further order, with no end date. The CCLA attorney swiftly secured a court hearing, and the judge granted the Final Judgment, ensuring Emily’s protection indefinitely. Emily, deeply relieved and grateful, thanked CCLA and our attorney for guiding her through the legal process and helping her finally secure the peace of mind she deserves.