GALLIPOLIS — Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer has appointed three judges as the newest members of the Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence, one of whom is Gallipolis Municipal Court Judge Margaret Evans.

The 19-member advisory committee provides ongoing advice to the Supreme Court’s Domestic Violence Program regarding the promotion of statewide rules and uniform standards concerning the establishment and operation of domestic violence programs in Ohio courts, the development and delivery of services to Ohio courts on matters involving domestic violence including training programs for judges and court personnel, and the consideration of any other issues deemed necessary to assist in the resolution of domestic violence issues presented in Ohio courts.

In addition to Evans, Judge Lynne Callahan, Summit County Common Pleas Court General Division, and Judge Michael Howard, Stark County Family Court, will begin their three-year terms on Jan. 1, 2010. According to Chief Justice Moyer, the judges’ different jurisdictions complement those already represented on the advisory committee and achieve an important balance because domestic violence issues cross all court jurisdictions.

Chief Justice Moyer thanked the judges for their commitment to serve in appointment letters and noted that their work “will have a profound impact on increasing domestic violence victims’ safety and holding their offenders accountable.”

In addition to naming new advisory committee members, Chief Justice Moyer reappointed three advisory committee members to new terms. They include attorneys Robin Bozian with Southeastern Ohio Legal Services, Alexandria Ruden with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and Michael Smalz with ACTION Ohio/Ohio Poverty Law Center.

Recognizing the importance of effective and sound domestic violence practices from the judiciary, the Supreme Court established the Domestic Violence Program in 2007 to:

• Promote coordination and communication among courts that issue domestic violence protection orders and other relevant orders.

• Support standard domestic violence and stalking protection order forms and practices.

• Disseminate leading-edge domestic violence practices, policies and procedures.

• Track trends in domestic violence and stalking cases.

• Develop trainings and other educational opportunities to highlight current trends in the domestic violence field.