Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 8, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke appoints Halpert to chair Domestic Violence Action Group

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke today appointed Judge Helen L. Halpert to chair his new Domestic Violence Action Group, which will look into the Linda David spousal abuse case and raise the level of domestic violence awareness in general.

Halpert has served on the Seattle Municipal Court since 1989, and as presiding judge since 1998. She co-authored the "Domestic Violence Manual for Judges," which is used in courts throughout the state.

"Judge Halpert is one of the foremost legal experts on domestic violence in our nation," Locke said. "I appreciate her willingness to head our action group and to help us all better understand this painful issue."

Halpert said, "This will be a small advisory group with a limited time frame and function. I would like to thank Gov. Locke for his prompt response to recent developments."

The governor published a guest column in the Seattle Times on Sunday, June 6, in which he said it was time for everyone to stop making excuses about why the abuse of Linda David, an Everett woman, was allowed to continue for so long.

The David case goes back more than a decade. Laws and regulations that have since been changed hindered efforts to aid David because she was in the care of her husband.

Workers for the state Department of Social and Health Services finally took David from her husband’s boat in early 1997, soon after Locke took office. She had been badly abused and forced to live in gruesome conditions in the bow of the boat. She is now in a nursing home.

David’s husband, Victor David, was arrested two weeks ago after a series of articles in the Seattle Times revived interest in his wife’s case.

Locke said he will announce the other members of his Domestic Violence Action Group by the end of this week. He is considering representatives of domestic violence help groups, law enforcement and social services.

--more--

In announcing the appointment of Halpert at a news conference in Olympia, Locke also introduced Mary Pontarolo, director of the Washington Council Against Domestic Violence, who will serve on the action group.

"I want to thank the governor for his commitment to raising the level of awareness about domestic violence," Potarolo said.

» Return to this month's News Releases

» View News Release Archive