2025 Power Act

Jury Assembly Room

U.S. District Courthouse

Bridging the Justice Gap for Survivors

Each year, to commemorate the enactment of the POWER Act, Arkansas Access to Justice partners with the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas to host this continuing legal education (CLE) program focused on pro bono representation for survivors of domestic violence.

The POWER (Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent) Act, signed into law on September 4, 2018, recognizes that pro bono legal services are a critical tool to empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Congress found that providing legal assistance to survivors:

  • Reduces the likelihood of future violence
  • Increases the success rate of obtaining protective orders
  • Helps survivors move forward with their lives

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), over 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

The impact of legal representation:

The Act highlights research showing that 83% of survivors represented by an attorney were able to obtain a protective order, compared to just 32% of those without legal representation. Protective orders play a crucial role in preventing further harm to survivors and their families.

Despite this, thousands of requests for legal services go unmet each year. A “dedicated army of pro bono attorneys,” as envisioned by the Act, is needed to bridge this gap and promote survivor safety and stability.

Under Section 3 of the Act, district courts are encouraged to lead public events each year that promote pro bono service for survivors and raise awareness of these critical needs. This annual CLE is part of that national effort.

Learn more about the POWER Act.

Register to Attend in Person Register to Attend Virtually
1

Event Schedule

1:00 – 1:10 PM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
 The Honorable Kristine G. Baker
 Chief U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Arkansas

1:10 – 2:10 PM | 1 General CLE Credit

Opportunities & Needs for Pro Bono Representation in Domestic Violence Cases
 This panel will explore the current landscape of pro bono representation for survivors of domestic violence, including post-decree family law issues, identifying when domestic violence may be a factor in a case, relevant legal processes and timeframes, and the types of cases where pro bono attorneys are most needed.
 Panelists will also highlight current cases available for pro bono referral.

Moderator: Edith Chavez De Oseguera, Arkansas Access to Justice

Panelists:

• Judge LaTonya Austin Honorable, 5th Division Circuit for Pulaski & Perry County

• Judge Cara Boyd Connors, 12th Division Circuit for Pulaski & Perry County

• Barbara Mariani, Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence

• Casey Copeland, Legal Aid of Arkansas

• Drew Rodgers, Center for Arkansas Legal Services

2:10 – 2:25 PM | Break
 Light refreshments provided

2:25 – 3:25 PM | 1 Ethics Credit
Ethics of Pro Bono Representation in Domestic Violence & Abuse Cases
This ethics-focused panel will discuss best practices for attorneys handling pro bono matters involving domestic violence or abuse, including trauma-informed approaches, confidentiality considerations, and ethical duties when working with vulnerable clients.
 Panelists will offer practical advice for lawyers who are new to this area of service.

Moderator: Colin Crawford, Dean, William H. Bowen School of Law
 Panelists:
 • Bobby Digby, The Digby Law Firm
 • Lori D. Howard, Howard Law Firm
 • Sidney Stewart, Taylor & Taylor Law Firm
 • Megan E. Wooster, MW Law PLLC

3:25 – 3:30 PM | Closing Remarks
 The Honorable Joe J. Volpe
 U.S. Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Arkansas

3:30 – 4:30 PM| In-Person Free Legal Answers (FLA) Clinic

Following the CLE, attendees are invited to stay for an in-person Free Legal Answers (FLA) clinic—a hands-on opportunity to put pro bono and trauma-informed lawyering skills into practice.

Attorneys may also earn additional pro bono CLE credit based on time spent answering FLA questions.

What is Free Legal Answers?
 Arkansas Free Legal Answers is an online platform where eligible Arkansans can post civil legal questions and receive brief advice from volunteer attorneys. It provides an accessible way for individuals—many of whom are navigating sensitive issues such as domestic violence, custody, housing instability, or financial control—to get legal guidance.

What to Expect at the Clinic:
 At this in-person clinic, participating attorneys will:
 ▷ Answer real legal questions submitted through the FLA platform
 ▷ Support and mentor law students who will also be participating
 ▷ Network and collaborate with colleagues in a collegial setting with light refreshments

Attorneys can also earn additional CLE credit for time spent answering questions on Free Legal Answers following the clinic. Details on how to track and claim this credit will be provided at the event.

While FLA questions may not always be explicitly domestic violence-related, many touch on intersecting issues where trauma-informed approaches are essential. The clinic offers a practical and meaningful way to expand access to justice for vulnerable Arkansans—and to strengthen your pro bono impact.

Register to Attend in Person Register to Attend Virtually

Add to Calendar

Speakers & Panelists

The Honorable Kristine G. Baker
Chief U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Arkansas

Kristine Gerhard Baker was sworn in as a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas on May 21, 2012.

She was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is a charter-class graduate of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. She received two Bachelor of Arts degrees, summa cum laude, in 1993 from Saint Louis University and a Juris Doctor, with High Honors, in 1996 from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Judge Baker began her legal career clerking for then Chief U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright from 1996–1998. She later entered private practice, focusing on commercial litigation. She has served on numerous legal and community boards and committees, including the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Model Civil Jury Instructions Committee and the Arkansas Bar Foundation.

The Honorable Joe J. Volpe
 U.S. Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Arkansas

Judge Joe J. Volpe was sworn in as U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas on July 30, 2009. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Judge Volpe served four years as a U.S. Army Field Artillery officer and later graduated from the UA Little Rock Bowen School of Law. He previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Little Rock and deployed with the Arkansas Army National Guard.

Judge LaTonya Austin Honorable
Fifth Division Circuit Court Judge, Pulaski & Perry Counties

Judge LaTonya Honorable serves as the Fifth Division Circuit Judge for Pulaski and Perry Counties, presiding over criminal, domestic relations, and probate matters. Before her election, she spent more than 20 years practicing law across Arkansas, representing clients in criminal defense, family law, civil litigation, estate planning, and personal injury. Her extensive public service includes roles as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Public Defender, Little Rock Deputy City Attorney, HelpLine Attorney for the Center for Arkansas Legal Services, and Neutral Hearing Officer for a local housing agency.

She is a vocal advocate for access to justice and criminal justice reform, and co-coordinates “Get Right With the Court,” an annual event that helps individuals seek leniency for past-due fines and fees—removing barriers to employment, housing, and community reintegration, without the threat of incarceration. Judge Honorable is also a founding board member of Sistas-in-Law and remains deeply involved in civic engagement and public legal education efforts statewide.

Judge Cara Boyd Connors
Twelfth Division Circuit Court Judge, Pulaski & Perry Counties

Judge Cara Boyd Connors serves as Circuit Judge for the Twelfth Division of Pulaski and Perry Counties, presiding over civil, domestic, and probate matters. Prior to her election in 2022, she operated her own law firm, Boyd Connors, P.A., focusing on criminal defense in state and federal courts, as well as domestic relations and civil litigation. She also served as a deputy prosecuting attorney and a revocation hearing judge for the Arkansas Parole Board. Judge Connors is a graduate of Hendrix College and the Bowen School of Law and remains active in community and professional organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Girl Scouts of America, the W. Harold Flowers Law Society, and as a founding board member of Sistas-in-Law.

Barbara Mariani
Legal Counsel, Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Barbara Mariani is Legal Counsel for the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where she leads efforts to advance survivor rights and expand legal access for self-represented litigants. With over 30 years of experience, she previously served as a Senior Deputy Prosecutor in Pulaski County, handling complex cases involving domestic violence, homicide, and multi-defendant crimes. She supervised five divisions of Circuit Court and led units addressing juvenile crime and gang violence. Barbara founded the Parent and Child Legal Aid Program, which provides free legal representation to victims seeking orders of protection in Pulaski County. She also played a key role in the passage of the Arkansas Domestic Violence Shelter Act and regularly trains law enforcement, attorneys, and advocates on protective orders and legal privilege in domestic violence cases.

Casey Copeland

Pro Bono Director, Legal Aid of Arkansas

Casey Copeland has practiced law in Arkansas since 2005, with primary focus in child welfare, family law, real property, and estate planning. He is a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist with the National Association of Counsel for Children, and worked as a DN Attorney Ad Litem in the Sebastian County Juvenile Courts from 2012 to 2021. Subsequently, he worked representing parents, relatives, and foster-parents in DR, PR, and DN cases; and worked as OCC for Arkansas DHS for a time, covering dependency-neglect and adult protective services cases. Casey is a qualified Attorney Ad Litem for DN, DR, and PR cases, and is a certified mediator for DR and PR matters. He has been the Pro Bono Director for Arkansas Legal Aid since October 2024, where he focuses on recruiting pro bono volunteers to represent low-income Arkansans, and coordinates various legal clinics around the state.

Drew Rodgers
Strategic Integration Manager, Center for Arkansas Legal Services

Drew Rodgers is the Strategic Integration Manager for the Center for Arkansas Legal Services. He began his legal career as Assistant Pro Bono Coordinator and Law Clerk in the Little Rock office. He later served as a family law and consumer protection attorney and was named to Arkansas’s “20 in their Twenties” Class of 2023. Drew now oversees the Center’s Pro Bono Program. He holds a JD from the William H. Bowen School of Law and is admitted to practice before all Arkansas state and federal district courts.

Edith Chavez De Oseguera
 Free Legal Answers Administrator & Language Access Liaison
 Arkansas Access to Justice Commission & Foundation

Edith Chavez De Oseguera administers Arkansas Free Legal Answers, leads language access initiatives, and supports outreach and fundraising for Arkansas Access to Justice. She holds a JD from the William H. Bowen School of Law, where she led the Hispanic Law Students Association. Before joining Access to Justice, Edith worked as a paralegal and interpreter. She grew up in Cancun, Mexico, and is passionate about expanding access to justice for underserved communities

 Bobby Digby
 The Digby Law Firm

Bobby Digby is a criminal trial attorney known for taking on serious cases and obtaining successful verdicts. He frequently teaches trial practice skills to other attorneys and is recognized both locally and nationally for his litigation work. Honors include 2022 Little Rock’s Best Lawyers, Top 100 National Criminal Defense Lawyers, and National Top 40 Criminal Lawyers Under 40.

Lori D. Howard
 Howard Law Firm

Lori D. Howard is an attorney specialist with the State of Arkansas, working with the Office of Child Support Enforcement. She previously ran a solo practice focusing on domestic relations, probate, and real estate, and served as an attorney ad litem. Lori also served eight years as president of the Saline County Bar Association and currently serves on the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Civil Practice.

Sidney Stewart
 Taylor & Taylor Law Firm

Sidney Stewart is an attorney at Taylor & Taylor Law Firm in Little Rock, where she focuses exclusively on domestic relations matters. A graduate of the Bowen School of Law and a CPA, Sidney originally intended to pursue tax law but developed a passion for family law during a clerkship. She is also an active member of the Bowen Young Alumni Board.

Megan E. Wooster
Founder & Managing Attorney, M.W. Law, PLLC

Megan E. Wooster is the founder of M.W. Law, PLLC, a boutique family law firm based in Little Rock. With more than 15 years of legal experience, she focuses her practice on high-conflict custody, divorce, guardianship, and protection order cases. She has been recognized for her work representing survivors of domestic violence and advocating for children and vulnerable parties in complex litigation. Known for her client-centered approach, thorough preparation, and integrity in both contested hearings and alternative dispute resolution, Ms. Wooster also frequently speaks on topics related to family law, domestic abuse litigation, and solo practice management.

Dean Colin Crawford

William H. Bowen School of Law

Colin Crawford was appointed dean of the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in July 2023, having previously served as dean in law schools in Louisville, Kentucky, and San Francisco, California.
 He was formerly a tenured faculty member at Tulane University (as Robert C. Cudd Professor of Environmental Law) and Georgia State University College of Law, where he founded the Center for the Comparative Study of Metropolitan Growth. He has taught courses in property law, land use, and environmental law.

CLE Credits, Registration, Pro Bono Opportunities

Megan Douglas
Program Coordinator
Arkansas Access to Justice

501-492-7173

megan@arkansasjustice.org

Venue and General Questions

Tammy Downs
Clerk of Court
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas

501-604-5300

tammy_downs@ared.uscourts.gov

Free Legal Answers (FLA) Clinic

Edith Chavez De Oseguera
Free Legal Answers Administrator & Language Access Liaison
Arkansas Access to Justice

501-492-7172

edith@arkansasjustice.org

Add event to calendar

AppleGoogleOffice 365OutlookOutlook.comYahoo

en_USEnglish
es_MXEspañol de México en_USEnglish