Individuals and Institutions Making Progress against Abuse in Communities Together

The Honorable J. Thomas Kirkman (retired) is currently serving on the Safe Havens Community Advisory Board. He first became involved with the agency many years ago when he served on the Faith Community Task Force of the Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence. Judge Kirkman has worked in the Commonwealth for over 25 years to support survivors of abuse in many capacities. He was the Director of a Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit in the Cape and Islands D.A.'s office for 16 years and served on the D.V. Committee of the Mass. District Courts during his 10 years as a judge. He has worked for Legal Services (in MA and IL), has presented locally and nationally, and in 1993 was appointed to serve as the Director of the Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit for the Cape and Islands District of Massachusetts. Recent articles include “Every Breath You Take: Massachusetts Steps Up Its Efforts to Stop Stalkers” 85 Mass. L. Rev. 174 (Spring 2001) and “God May Know All, But the Rest of Us Don’t – Mandated Clergy Reporting of Child Abuse” 87 Mass. L. Rev. 155 (Spring 2003).  Judge Kirkman currently serves on the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. Over the years, he has had a significant impact on community responses to abuse. In recognition of his past and future leadership, Judge Kirkman is a recipient of Safe Havens’ 2019 IMPACT Award.