ESPOC Webinar Panel Series
- OVW Approved?
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Yes
- Description
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This webinar series explores how electronic service (eService) can be used in civil protection order cases in a way that is both practical and legally sound. Participants will hear from a wide range of practitioners, including prosecutors, professors, attorneys, and court administrators, who bring different perspectives on how eService is working in the field. The series begins with a basic overview of how eService fits within current service of process and then will move into three key areas: (1) legal considerations, focusing on whether eService methods meet due process requirements like reliability, authentication and proof of service; (2) technical and operational issues, looking at what courts need to put in place to make eService work safely and effectively, including system design and communication across agencies; and, (3) survivor safety, accessibility and equity, examining how eService can improve access to justice while also addressing potential risks and ensuring that systems are designed with survivors in mind.
Webinar 1: Introduction to Electronic Service of Civil Protection Orders (Monday, June 8, 2026 at 2pm ET) (1 hr) Electronic service of civil protection orders (eService) is gaining attention as courts seek to address barriers in effectuating service and ensuring timely enforcement. This opening webinar provides a foundational, legally grounded overview of eService within the broader framework of service of process.We will frame the current landscape by exploring how eService fits within due process standards, including the “reasonably calculated” notice requirement, how it compares to existing alternative methods like publication, what it looks like in practice across jurisdictions, and emerging authority and key considerations related to documentation and whether the case is prosecutable. This session will introduce key legal and practical concepts that will be explored more deeply in the upcoming panel series on due process, technology and implementation, and survivor safety, accessibility and equity.
Webinar 2: Due Process Considerations in eService (Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 2pm ET) (1.5 hrs): As courts explore electronic service in civil protection order cases (eService), questions about constitutional sufficiency and procedural fairness move to the forefront. What does due process require when serving a respondent in a civil protection order case? In this digital age, what does the “reasonably calculated to provide notice” standard mean? And can electronic methods meet traditional the standards set in providing actual notice? The facilitated panel will explore these questions and also consider how courts can assess reliability, authentication and proof of service in electronic contexts.
Webinar 3: Technical Issues, Remedies, and Best Practices for e Service of Civil Protection Orders (Monday, June 29, 2026 at 2pm ET) (1 hr): Electronic service of civil protection orders (eService) is not simply a policy decision, but a safety-critical systems design challenge. Courts considering eService must evaluate identity assurance, delivery confirmation, auditability, and system integration across court, law enforcement, and notification platforms. This webinar will focus on the technical realities of implementing eService within court systems, including common failure points, risks to enforceability and victim safety, and how courts can detect and mitigate breakdowns. The facilitated panel will also examine practical safeguards and best practices, including authentication methods, timestamping, and ensuring reliable, real-time communication across systems.
Webinar 4: Survivor Safety, Accessibility & Equity (August 13, 2026 at 2pm ET) (1.5 hrs): Modernizing service of civil protection orders through electronic methods have immense potential in improving access to justice. But at the same time, electronic systems can create new risks if they do not account for the lived realties of survivors of intimate partner violence. This facilitated panel will examine eService through a survivor-centered and equity-informed lens and how courts can design eService systems that enhance survivor safety while preserving due process protections.
This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-24-GK-03026-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.