2026 POWER ACT Event: Helping Survivors of Domestic Violence
Please join the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. for our 2026 POWER ACT Event - Helping Survivors of Domestic Violence.
Survivors of domestic and family violence frequently encounter complex challenges that extend across multiple practice areas, including medical and legal. This panel features attorneys and advisers who provide direct services to adults and children impacted by domestic and family violence. Panelists will discuss the importance of immediate and appropriate medical care and the participation in the prosecution to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions against vulnerable victims and increase safety in our communities by working together to help prevent future assaults. Attendees will gain an understanding of the critical role of legal advocacy in promoting safety, stability, and justice for survivors, and will leave with ideas on how they can contribute much needed pro bono services. Those already practicing in this field will gain practical insights to inform and enhance their own practice.
Panelists
Mary Glass
Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Division Chief, Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office
Heidi Martin (BSN, RN, SANE-A)
Forensic Clinical Supervisor University Medical Center
Jordan Pedalino (PhD)
Sexual Assault Specialist with New Orleans Health Dept, Adjunct Professor at Loyola, Founder & Principal Consultant of Pedalino & Co.
Elizabeth Heron
Felony Domestic Violence Advocate
The in-person program will also be accessible via Zoom. There is no charge to attend either in person or by Zoom. Pre-registration is requested.
This program is being co-sponsored by the Association for Women Attorneys, Louis A. Martinet Society, Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and the New Orleans Bar Association.
