Public Interest Law Review Symposium Examines Issues of Domestic Violence
February 10, 2023
Richmond Law’s scholarly voice for social welfare, public policy, and a broad spectrum of jurisprudence sheds light on domestic violence.
The University of Richmond Public Interest Law Review (PILR) hosted its annual symposium earlier this month, discussing a variety of issues related to domestic violence. Dr. Sarah Jane Brubaker, professor of gender violence intervention at Virginia Commonwealth University, served as the featured keynote speaker for the event.
PILR is the law school’s scholarly voice for issues pertaining to social welfare, public policy, and a broad spectrum of jurisprudence. This year’s event was organized by Symposium Editors Jessica Rooke, L’23 and Teresa Sun, L’23.
After exploring the problems, unintended consequences, and unaddressed forms of gender violence, Brubaker suggested a spectrum of ways that the legal system can help address these issues, all of which require new approaches to thinking about, theorizing, and understanding the problem.
“We need to reconceptualize violence and harm, and move toward broad definitions,” she said. “We need to try to change laws in ways that recognize and respond to the overlooked harms that are experienced. And our response also requires that we do so in trauma-informed and survivor-centered ways.”
Throughout the symposium, additional speakers went on to examine the impact that recent Supreme Court cases, such as New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen and Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization may have on domestic violence, as well as the intersection of emerging technologies, parental alienation in custody cases, and policies and practices in higher education.
“Domestic violence is a complex topic, and one of enormous importance in the U.S. and around the world,” said Dean Wendy Perdue. “Solutions are not simple in this area and there are likely to be a number of good faith disagreements about the best path forward. But our best hope for progress comes from serious discussions like those taking place in forums like the PILR symposium.”
The full list of symposium speakers, as well as their topics and presentations is available on the PILR website here.
PILR is the law school’s scholarly voice for issues pertaining to social welfare, public policy, and a broad spectrum of jurisprudence. This year’s event was organized by Symposium Editors Jessica Rooke, L’23 and Teresa Sun, L’23.
After exploring the problems, unintended consequences, and unaddressed forms of gender violence, Brubaker suggested a spectrum of ways that the legal system can help address these issues, all of which require new approaches to thinking about, theorizing, and understanding the problem.
“We need to reconceptualize violence and harm, and move toward broad definitions,” she said. “We need to try to change laws in ways that recognize and respond to the overlooked harms that are experienced. And our response also requires that we do so in trauma-informed and survivor-centered ways.”
Throughout the symposium, additional speakers went on to examine the impact that recent Supreme Court cases, such as New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen and Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization may have on domestic violence, as well as the intersection of emerging technologies, parental alienation in custody cases, and policies and practices in higher education.
“Domestic violence is a complex topic, and one of enormous importance in the U.S. and around the world,” said Dean Wendy Perdue. “Solutions are not simple in this area and there are likely to be a number of good faith disagreements about the best path forward. But our best hope for progress comes from serious discussions like those taking place in forums like the PILR symposium.”
The full list of symposium speakers, as well as their topics and presentations is available on the PILR website here.