Judge Carbon to Direct Office on Violence Against Women

Judge Carbon to Direct Office on Violence Against Women


President Barack Obama has named Judge Susan B. Carbon to direct the federal Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). Judge Carbon is well-known to many domestic violence and child welfare experts for her longtime work to improve the judicial and social service response to families experiencing multiple forms of violence.

“I have known Judge Carbon for nearly two decades, and have long admired her exemplary career in public service and her dedication to defending the rights of women and children,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) told the Boston Globe. “Judge Carbon was the driving force behind many of New Hampshire’s efforts to strengthen domestic legal protections for women, and I’m so happy she will now lead the charge on this important issue nationwide.” Senator Shaheen recommended Judge Carbon for the position.

“Judge Carbon is a wonderful choice to lead the Office on Violence Against Women,” agreed Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) President Esta Soler. “We have worked with her for many years, and know first-hand that she is passionate about stopping domestic, sexual and dating violence and protecting victims. We know that she will be highly effective in this position. We welcome her leadership.”

First appointed to the bench in 1991, Judge Carbon has been a Supervisory Judge of the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Family Division since 1996. She also serves as faculty for the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence – a partnership of the OVW, the FVPF, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ). She was President of NCJFCJ from 2007 to 2008, and still frequently serves as a faculty member.

President Obama announced Judge Carbon’s appointment at the same time he announced his intent to nominate James B. Warlick, Jr. to serve as Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria. He said of the two nominees, “I am grateful that these two outstanding individuals will be joining my administration by serving in these important roles. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

Judge Carbon is a member of the Governor’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and, until recently, chaired New Hampshire’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee. She also chaired the project that produced the multidisciplinary Effective Issuance and Enforcement of Orders of Protection in Domestic Violence Cases (The Burgundy Book), a document used throughout the country and U.S. territories to guide professionals in their work around civil protection orders.

Judge Carbon has trained judges and other professionals across the country and internationally on topics related to family violence, firearms, child custody, and child protection. She has published extensively on these and other topics, including on judicial selection and retention and judicial administration. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the DePaul University College of Law.



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