In Lubbock, the Diocese of Lubbock published an online list of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing a “minor,” including Respondent Jesus Guerrero. Mr. Guerrero is accused of having sexually abused an adult woman, whom the Church defines as a “minor” because of her mental capacity. The...
STEVEN DOUGLAS ROCKETT v. N.S.
This amicus brief was written as a response to Defendant’s argument that a conviction for an Attempt to Violate 18 USC § 2251, Sexual Exploitation of Children, does not count as a true violation for the purposes of 18 USC § 2255, the statute allowing victims of certain crimes to get a civil...
MORROW v. FORD
This amicus brief was written to support Petitioner’s writ of habeas corpus following a murder conviction and death sentence, claiming ineffective assistance of counsel where trial counsel did not conduct an investigation into the Petitioner’s childhood. Issue includes whether child sexual abuse...
STATEMENT OF INTEREST re. S.P. ET. AL. v. SCA, INC., ET. AL.
This amicus brief was written to support two plaintiffs who were minors at the time of their abuse and adults at the time of the trial, where defendants objected to the use of pseudonyms to identify the victims. Issue includes whether victims of child sex abuse may pursue litigation through the...
Has Maine Fought Catholic Sex Abuse?
by Leslie C. Griffin* I am waiting for the Maine Supreme Court to decide a case about sexual abuse and the statute of limitations [SOL].1 Statutes of limitations are rules that explain when the courts are open or closed to victims of abuse. I am particularly interested in the implications of that...
The History of Catholic Abuse in Maine
by Leslie C. Griffin* The abuse of children by Catholic clergy has a long history in the State of Maine. The Beginning Some initial news about Catholic Maine abuse was released when the Maine Supreme Court ordered it. In Blethen Maine Newspapers v. Maine, 871 A.2d 523 (Me. 2005), the Supreme Court...
The Maryland Supreme Court Should Find The Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 Constitutional
by Rob Jenner Jenner Law, P.C. Baltimore, Maryland Last month a dedicated team of lawyers presented oral argument before the Maryland Supreme Court in support of the Maryland Child Victims Act (CVA) of 2023. The heart of the legal battle concerned the statutory language that existed in the 2017...
Do you know your Catholic abusers in New Hampshire?
by Leslie C. Griffin* This post will tell you about them. New Hampshire has one Catholic Diocese of Manchester, which includes many schools and parishes. New Hampshire has changed its statute of limitations [SOL] for sexual abuse several times. The SOL determines when your time begins and ends to...
Vermont: Stalling the Catholic Abuse Through Bankruptcy
by Leslie C. Griffin* There is one Roman Catholic diocese in Vermont, the Diocese of Burlington.1 On September 30, 2024, Kevin O’Connor reported that the diocese had gone into bankruptcy, becoming the fortieth Catholic organization to do so.2 In the bankruptcy papers, Bishop John McDermott of the...