Senate Judiciary hears S.9 to allow after‑hours civil protection orders for sexual‑assault survivors

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 29, heard testimony on S.9, a bill that would allow survivors of sexual assault to seek civil protection orders outside regular court hours.

Michelle Childs, Office of Legislative Counsel and vice chair, walked the committee through the bill and the statutory background, saying the proposal is modeled on the after‑hours process that already exists for relief from abuse (Title 15) and other emergency orders. "So these ex parte orders are ones where the defendant, isn't necessarily there because they're done on an emergency basis," Childs said, adding that the temporary ex parte orders typically last 10 days and are followed by a hearing.

The bill would add after‑hours procedures for the civil orders provided under Title 12 for "orders against sexual assault" while not extending those procedures to stalking orders. "The judicial officer is to issue the order solely on the basis of the contents of the affidavits provided," Childs said, describing the proposed telephonic/electronic…