ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence

10/19/2026

Join the ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence for Write & Tell Live, a book-club-style discussion series featuring authors whose works explore gender-based violence, survivor experiences, advocacy, and justice.
In this installment, we welcome Annie Seifullah, author of The Scarlet Hashtag: Turn Your Public Shaming into Power; attorney; survivor advocate; and member of the ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence.

Drawing on her own experience surviving image-based sexual abuse and public shaming, Seifullah developed The Scarlet Hashtag, a practical, 10-step guidebook designed to help individuals navigate the trauma of public shaming, reclaim control over their lives, and move forward with renewed confidence and purpose.

In conversation with Emma Berman, ABA Young Lawyers Division Liaison to the Commission, Seifullah will discuss the experiences that inspired the guidebook, the strategies and lessons it offers, and what attorneys and advocates can learn about supporting survivors of image-based sexual abuse, online harassment, and public shaming through survivor-centered, trauma-informed approaches.

To register and to learn more: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/domestic_violence/events/write-and-tell-live/annie-seiffullah-live/

10/16/2026

We are still feeling the joy and inspiration of celebrating our 2026 Sharon L. Corbitt and Judith S. Kaye Award recipients!

Today, we are especially proud to recognize Judge Toni S. King, recipient of the Judith S. Kaye Award.

We invite you to watch this special video to learn more about Judge King and why her leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing safety and justice for survivors make her so deserving of this recognition.

Please join us in celebrating Judge King and sharing her inspiring story!

Judge Toni S. King is the winner of the Commission's 2026 Judith S. Kaye Award for Judicial Excellence, which recognizes service by judicial officers who demonstrate knowledge of domestic and sexual violence and exemplary leadership.

09/16/2026

We are proud to announce the recipients of our 2026 Sharon L. Corbitt and Judith S. Kaye Awards.

Becki Kondkar, Director of the Tulane Domestic Violence Clinic and Women’s Prison Project, has been selected to receive the 2026 Sharon L. Corbitt Award.

Judge Toni S. King, Chief District Court Judge of North Carolina’s 14th Judicial District, has been selected to receive the 2026 Judith S. Kaye Award.

Through their leadership, service, and commitment to their communities, Becki and Judge King exemplify the values these awards recognize.

We look forward to honoring them at the 2026 Champions of Justice and Service Ceremony and Reception on October 15 in Chicago.

In the weeks ahead, we will introduce you to each of these remarkable honorees and the work that earned them this recognition.

Learn more about Becki Kondkar and Judge Toni S. King: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/domestic_violence/awards/

Please join us in congratulating our 2026 award recipients!

06/05/2026

This Pride Month, we honor the strength, resilience, and contributions of LGBTQ+ survivors, advocates, attorneys, and communities across the country.

LGBTQ+ individuals experience domestic and sexual violence at significant rates and often face unique barriers to safety, support, and justice. As we celebrate Pride, we also reaffirm our commitment to advancing equity, promoting access to legal protections and services, and supporting efforts to ensure that all survivors are treated with dignity and respect.

The ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence stands with LGBTQ+ communities and remains dedicated to fostering a future where every person can live free from violence and discrimination.

05/20/2026

If you were not able to join us live for the first Write and Tell conversation of the year, we invite you to watch the recording of our discussion on Recantation and Domestic Violence: The Untold Story.

Author and longtime Commission member David Martin joined Amy Bonomi, PhD, MPH, for a thoughtful conversation about the complexities of recantation, the ways survivor experiences are often misunderstood, and the importance of bringing greater context and understanding into our legal systems and responses. Dr. Bonomi’s groundbreaking research on recantation and coercion has helped shape the field’s understanding of these dynamics, including the widely recognized five-stage model explored in the book.

The discussion was moderated by Commission member Patricia Astorga, and we are grateful to Patricia, David, and Amy for helping create such a meaningful conversation.

If you were not able to join us live, we hope you will take time to watch the recording linked below.

We are pleased to welcome authors David Martin and Amy Bonomi for a compelling discussion exploring the complex realities of domestic violence cases in which victims later withdraw, alter, or recant their statements.

05/15/2026

We all know someone whose leadership, compassion, and commitment have strengthened the response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The Corbitt and Kaye Awards are an opportunity to recognize those individuals and celebrate the impact they make every day.

The Sharon L. Corbitt Award honors a lawyer from any area of practice whose service and leadership have improved the legal response to gender-based violence.

The Judith S. Kaye Award for Judicial Excellence recognizes judicial officers who demonstrate deep knowledge of domestic and sexual violence and outstanding leadership in developing effective courtroom responses.

Please help us recognize the people whose work too often happens quietly, but whose impact is profound.

We encourage you to nominate a colleague, mentor, community partner, or judicial leader whose work deserves recognition.

Nominations are due Friday, May 22, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

04/03/2026

We are so proud to celebrate Ruth Perrin, who has been named a 40 Under 40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyer by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.

At the ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence, our mission is to mobilize the legal profession to increase access to justice and safety for survivors, and Ruth brings that mission to life every day. Her compassion, dedication, and commitment to advancing equity for LGBTQ+ communities strengthen our work and inspire others.

This honor is incredibly well deserved. Congratulations, Ruth!

03/23/2026

We are proud to launch the 2026 Corbitt and Kaye Awards, recognizing exceptional leadership in strengthening the legal response to gender-based violence.

The Sharon L. Corbitt Award honors a lawyer from any area of practice whose service and leadership have improved the legal response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking.

The Judith S. Kaye Award for Judicial Excellence recognizes judicial officers who demonstrate deep knowledge of domestic and sexual violence and outstanding leadership in developing effective courtroom responses.

Help us recognize the professionals whose dedication advances justice, safety, and meaningful change for survivors.

Nominations are due Friday, May 22, 2026 at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

Link to Nominations: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/domestic_violence/awards/award-nominations/

03/09/2026

Many victims and survivors of abuse have concerns about keeping their personal information safe online. Some abusers chose to misuse that information in order to stalk and harass survivors. This can make those concerns especially acute. This is one reason why it’s important for tech companies to c...

02/19/2026

The Commission proudly recognizes Commission Member Hon. Melissa Pope, Chief Judge of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Court, for receiving the Judge Libby Hines Domestic Violence Award from the American Judges Association.

This national honor reflects Judge Pope’s extraordinary leadership and longstanding commitment to addressing domestic and sexual violence, strengthening survivor-centered justice, and advancing safety and healing within Tribal communities.

Judge Pope’s contributions to the field have also been recognized by the Judith S. Kaye Award for Judicial Excellence, presented by the ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence, a testament to her enduring impact and dedication to justice.

We are honored to serve alongside Judge Pope and celebrate this well-deserved recognition of her work.

Chief Judge Melissa Pope of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Tribal Court received the Judge Libby Hines Domestic Violence Award from the American Judges Association last week.