Low-income domestic violence survivors face uphill battle in obtaining court-ordered protections

Nique showed up to her first court hearing in King County alone.

Homeless and without an attorney or victim advocate by her side, she filed for a protection order against her husband in April. She said she was escaping a psychologically abusive marriage and felt her life was in danger, court documents say.

After she submitted the paperwork detailing her situation, the King County Superior Court approved a temporary protection order, effective up to two weeks until the court could schedule a hearing to determine whether to issue a full protection order, which can last for a year or longer. But the hearing that day didn’t go as planned.

“I was spoken down to, didn't really even feel heard, didn't really get to say anything. It was almost like the commissioner was finding ways to defend my abuser instead of actually listening to what my complaint was,” said Nique, a King County resident who asked to go by a nickname out of fear that her husband might track her down.

Shortly after, the Superior Court denied the petition for a full protection order, saying there wasn’t enough evidence. Her husband’s total control of the family’s finances meant Nique couldn’t pay for her own attorney or housing, she said, putting her at a steep disadvantage in court compared to her ex, who had an attorney and remains housed.