ALMD to Co-Host Virtual 2024 POWER Act Event

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama is joining more than 50 U.S. Districts Courts in hosting the 2024 Virtual POWER Act Event on July 19, 2024.  Designed to promote pro bono services to empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, the event will highlight the impact of pro bono representation and advocacy in the lives of victims and survivors of violence and abuse. 

The POWER Act (P. L. 115-237) was passed by Congress on September 4, 2018.  The primary goal of the POWER Act is for the U.S. District Courts to partner with a local, tribal, or territorial domestic abuse service provider and a local volunteer lawyer project to promote pro bono legal services as a way to empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to engage citizens in assisting those survivors.

The event, which begins on July 19, 2024 at 1:00 P.M. EST, is virtual and requires registration. You may click here to register.

Guest speakers include:

• Brenda Golden, an enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, lawyer, outspoken activist, advocate, and seeker of justice for native people.  She has presented oral testimony before the U.S. State Department and written testimony to the U.N. Permanent Forum.  Ms. Golden has met with several Governors of the State of Oklahoma, Attorneys General, and countless members of the Legislature to lobby for human and civil rights for citizens.
• Erin Helfert-Messe, an internationally recognized advocate for girls’ and women’s empowerment who speaks and works globally on issues of gender, gender-based violences, and gender equality, as well as girls’ and women’s empowerment.
• Ginger T. Rex, an actress and an author.  She recently published the anthology, “We’ve Been Put Through Fire & Come Out Divine: Stories of Hope & Survival.”  She works with many organizations, sharing her story in hopes it will help others navigate the victim’s side of the complicated justice system.
• Trina Clemens, a survivor, and activist.  She has been on a decades-long legal journey to hold her perpetrator accountable.  During her journey, she received support from family members and friends, as well as state, federal, and international legal and social service professionals. Her experience informs her to this day but has never defined her.

This conference is hosted by the Chief Judges of the United States District Courts, for the Districts of Alabama Middle, Alabama Northern, Alabama Southern, Alaska, Arizona, California Northern, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida Middle, Georgia Northern, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois Central, Illinois Northern, Illinois Southern, Indiana Northern, Indiana Southern, Iowa Northern, Iowa Southern, Kansas, Kentucky Western, Louisiana Middle, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan Eastern, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York Eastern, New York Northern, New York Southern, New York Western, North Carolina Middle, North Dakota, Oklahoma Eastern, Oklahoma Northern, Oklahoma Western, Oregon, Pennsylvania Middle, Pennsylvania Western, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee Western, Texas Northern, Texas Western, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia Eastern, Virginia Western, Washington Eastern, Wisconsin Eastern, Wisconsin Western, and Wyoming.

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