This was just passed onto me from Catherine Helshoj of Laguna Tools. Our wood working projects are being auctioned off during the retirement party for the judge who started the Collaborative Courts Foundations to keep our vets off the streets. Please read.

This email is written to advise our ABOTA Chapter of the retirement of  Judge Wendy Lindley,  after 20 years of tireless service as a judge.   For those who may not know her, she conceived of and implemented a court dedicated to combat veterans (Justice Moore is one of the mentors for the veterans in her court) as well as courts addressing the homeless and least fortunate in our society who struggle to obtain access to justice in a way designed to end the revolving door.

 

Judge Lindley's last day on the bench will be December 13.   She is being honored tomorrow night in Laguna Beach at a dinner hosted by the Collaborative Courts Foundation.   Although we wouldn’t expect you to attend last minute, ABOTA wants to make you aware of her contributions and her impending retirement. Words cannot adequately convey how her fellow judges admire this outstanding judge.

 

Below is a very brief description of her development of the VTC and the impact it has on the life of deserving veterans;

 

She started the Veterans Treatment Court because a young vet in one of her mental health courts overdosed and died.  She could not bear the thought of this happening ever again so she approached Judge Stock and asked if  she could have permission to open a Combat Vet Court where they could use evidence based treatment specifically for PTSD, traumatic brain injury and substance abuse.  She felt that the courts needed to offer  a structured program where our combat veterans could be comrades in recovery as they made their journey back to that person they were before they were so profoundly changed while engaged  in  protecting the rights  the rest of us enjoy every day.  Her collaborative team is composed of prosecuting and defense attorneys, probation, a VA social worker, HCA and numerous treatment professionals at the VA. Once the vets are stabilized they must have productive use of time, most are in college  and or working. A typical case in the court   would be  a young man in his  mid-twenties who has been deployed multiple times in Iraq and suffers from PTSD, TBI and substance abuse.   They also have women and veterans from the Vietnam War.   They have expanded and now treat military sexual trauma cases as well.  They have a wonderful mentor program wherein primarily combat vets from the Vietnam War volunteer to mentor our younger vets.  They have 43 graduates.  Judge Lindley  strongly believes that our community has a moral responsibility to treat these veterans rather than house them in jails and prisons. Our vet court saves lives, saves money and makes our community safer for everyone.  The OC court is only the 2nd nationwide and the 1st in Calif.

 

Further information about the event can be found by contacting:

Kathleen Burnham

Collaborative Courts Foundation

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Thanks, John, for the post.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

Great post, Sire.  Thank you for passing along.  Sounds like this judge is really on our side.  We thank her as well.

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'
Scroll Saw Forum Host