Domestic Violence Cases Consolidated In Alameda County

HAYWARD, CA — Alameda County Superior Court officials announced Tuesday that they are creating their first dedicated domestic violence courtroom.

The new court will open on June 4 in Department 502 at the Hayward Hall of Justice at 24405 Amador St. in Hayward. Court officials said the new department will handle all initial civil domestic violence restraining order filings throughout the county.

Currently, civil domestic violence filings are divided between the court's Family Law and General Civil departments. Court officials said that by consolidating all new civil domestic violence petitions into a single department, the court will provide the public with continuity of review and decision-making. They said it also will provide enhanced access to a wide range of services, some of which previously were unavailable through the court.

Judge Victor Rodriguez, who currently is assigned to Department 515 in Hayward, will preside over the new department. Court officials said that in order to prepare for the reopening of Department 502, the self-help workshops that currently are held in that courtroom will be relocated to Room 103 at the Hayward Hall of Justice.

The trailblazer for the first Unified Domestic Violence Court in Alameda County was Judge Barbara Miller, now deceased. She received numerous awards in her lifetime including Alameda County Trial Judge of the Year and the Judicial Distinguished Service Award.

— Bay City News; Image by Renee Schiavone, Patch