Press Release

Attorney General Lindemuth Honors Jon Katcher for his Pro Bono Service

October 3, 2016

Today Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth presented the seventh annual Attorney General’s Award for Pro Bono Service to Jon Katcher for his years of providing volunteer legal representation to victims of domestic violence.

The Attorney General presented the award as part of a ceremony proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth stated, “Alaska has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the nation. Specifically, Alaska has the highest homicide rate for female victims killed by a male perpetrator in the nation. And 59% of Alaskan women experience intimate partner or sexual violence. Legal support is crucial for many survivors to protect themselves and their children. But almost 30% of Alaskans are not able to access services or encourage others to do so because of a lack of services in their area. So volunteers like Jon Katcher are absolutely vital in combating domestic violence in Alaska. I commend him for his service to our state.”

Christine Pate, the director of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault legal program, also praises Katcher’s dedication: “Jon has been an exceptional volunteer for many years. His experience and litigation skills are a tremendous asset to our clients. Even though family law is not his area of practice, again and again he courageously jumped in to help.”

Since 2000, Katcher has worked on 22 cases through the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Alaska Legal Services Corporation, either personally representing the client or mentoring another attorney through the process.

According to Pate, “Jon’s efforts help break the cycle of violence for many victims. We know that victims often stay in their abusive relationship because they have been told they would lose their children in a custody battle if they leave or because they don’t have the economic means to leave. Jon’s work helping clients to get full custody of their children and solid child support awards has meant the difference between leaving and staying for many victims.”

Katcher’s public service extends beyond these domestic violence cases. He founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Day pro bono legal clinic, where attorneys across the state answer legal questions from low-income Alaskans, and has been the president of the Alaska Bar Association. He practices at Pope & Katcher in Anchorage.

If you’re an attorney interested in donating legal help to domestic violence survivors, please contact Christine Pate at the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault | 907-747-2673 | cpate@andvsa.org or Laura Goss at the Alaska Legal Services Corporation | 907-272-9431 | lgoss@alsc-law.org.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.