Bio
Jean Anne Kiewel
EDUCATION:
December, 2001, Victim-Offender Mediation Certificate, Just Solutions, Brattleboro, Vermont.
April, 2000, Divorce Mediation, Certificate, Woodbury College, Montpelier, Vermont.
January, 2000, Basic Mediation Certificate, Woodbury College, Montpelier, Vermont.
May, 1979, JD, Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont.
May, 1976, BA cum laude et cum honoribus in studiis historicis (with general honors and honors in the study of history), Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, New York.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
September, 2004 - present. Sole practitioner-Jean Anne Kiewel, P.C. I concentrate in family law. My family law practice encompasses a broad range of issues-see below. I presently hold a contract with the Vermont Defender General to represent children and parents' in juvenile cases in Windham County, and I am a grantee and pro bono attorney providing legal assistance to victims of sexual and domestic violence in Windham and Windsor Counties through a Department of Justice grant administered by the Vermont Network Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
May, 2003 - September 2004. Shareholder, Weber, Perra, Munzing, Krochmalny, and Kiewel, P.C. I concentrated in litigation, including family law, personal, injury, and workers' compensation. I also handled purchase and sale of family residences, wills, powers of attorney, probate and guardianships.
June, 1997 - May, 2003. Sole practitioner-Jean Anne Kiewel, P.C. I concentrated in family law. My family law practice encompassesed a broad range of issues including, but not limited to, divorce, dissolution of civil unions and relationships, prenuptial and pre-union agreements, child custody and visitation, child support, juvenile court-abuse, neglect and delinquency cases, domestic violence (including personal injury claims of abuse survivors), purchase and sale of family residences, wills, powers of attorney, probate and guardianships.
April 1, 1994 - June, 1997. Managing shareholder, Kiewel and Harris, P.C. My practice included family law, including defense of domestic abuse and assault charges, civil matters, employment law and representation of survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and assault. I had an active real estate practice and I was an agent for First American Title Insurance Company. I also served as counsel for the Vermont branch of Casey Family Services, a private non-profit social services agency focusing on child placement and long-term foster care of children.
September, 1, 1993 - March 30, 1994. Jean Anne Kiewel, Attorney at Law. In my sole private practice, I litigated family law and drug defense cases, and represented sexual harassment survivors in civil suits. I had an active real estate practice.
September, 1991 - September, 1993. Alternate District Commissioner (Act 250), State of Vermont District 2 Environmental Board. I sat as finder of fact and adjudicator with two other Commissioners on approximately a dozen applications for Act 250 permits.
July 15, 1990 - August 31, 1993. Associate attorney, Hertz and Wesley, Attorneys at Law, Brattleboro, Vermont. This small firm had a general practice and represented clients in family law, criminal defense, employment discrimination, and personal injury cases. The firm had an active real estate practice
August 28,1989 - July 15, 1990. Associate attorney, Bech and Associates, Hartland, Vermont. Our firm had a family law practice. My responsibilities included negotiation and litigation of parental rights and responsibilities, including adoption, child custody, divorce, and juvenile matters. Attorney Bech and I spent many hours lobbying and testifying for the revision of child support laws and the passage of the Family Court Act in the 1989-90 legislative session.
June, 1986 - present. Acting Judge and Child Support Magistrate, Vermont District and Family Courts, Brattleboro, Vermont. I have also served as acting Magistrate in Vermont Family Court, Windsor County
April 25, 1983 - August 28, 1989. Attorney and office manager, Jean Anne Kiewel, Attorney at Law, Bellows Falls, Vermont and Chester, Vermont. I had a sole private practice representing individuals and small businesses. The main areas of my practice were family law, juvenile law, both CHINS (child in need of care and supervision) and delinquency matters, criminal law, real estate, administrative appeals, including zoning and tax assessments. While in sole practice, I served as co-counsel in the "Baby Amy" child abandonment case, i.e. State v. Buckholtz and companion juvenile case.
June, 1980 - January, 1982. Law Clerk, Vermont Legal Aid, Inc., Springfield, Vermont. I represented clients at Social Security disability hearings, unemployment benefit hearings, welfare benefits hearings, and served as a benefits and tenant advocate. I counseled abuse survivors and divorce clients and assisted attorneys in representing divorce clients and domestic abuse survivors in court.
BAR ADMISSIONS:
April, 1996. Admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
December, 1983. Admitted to practice before the United States District Court, District of Vermont.
April, 1983 - present. Admitted to Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont. I am licensed to practice law in the State of Vermont.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
September, 1994 - May, 1995. Sterry Waterman Chapter, American Inns of Court.
January, 1994 - 1996. American Trial Lawyers Association.
September, 1989 - present. Family Law Committee, Vermont Bar Association.
September, 1988 - March, 1989. Member, Committee of the Vermont Bar Association on Court Unification (Parker Commission).
September, 1988 - December 2003. Vermont Trial Lawyer's Association. 1989-1991, Member of Board of Governors.
September, 1983 - December, 1988; August, 1990 - present. Windham County Bar Association.
September, 1983 - present. Women's Section, Vermont Bar Association.
April, 1983 - present. Vermont Bar Association; 1987-88, Women's Section Representative to Board of Managers.September, 1995 – December, 1998: Windham County Family Law Committee Chairperson.
SEMINARS PRESENTED:
May, 1997. Organizer and panel member, "Forensic and Therapeutic Roles: Working Together in the Client's Best Interests," Vermont Trial Lawyers and Brattleboro Retreat, Brattleboro, Vermont.
September - December, 1993. Organizer, moderator and presenter, "People's Law School," Vermont Trial Lawyer's Association, Brattleboro, Vermont.
March, 1992. Presenter, ''Trial Advocacy," Women's Section, Vermont Bar Association, Killington, Vermont.
June, 1991, Panel member, "Dynamics of Family Abuse," Private Bar Involvement Project, Vermont Legal Aid, Inc., Rutland, Vermont.
September, 1990. Panel member, "Women Attorneys in Vermont," Vermont Bar Association, Annual Meeting, Killington, Vermont.
REPORTED CASES:
Siegel v. Misch, 2007 VT 116 (child sexual abuse – trial counsel for child).
Flaherty v. Flaherty, 2007-064 (2007- 3 justice panel memorandum decision - spousal maintenance - amount and duration).
Heffernan v. Harbeson, 861 A.2d 1149, (2004) VT 98 (joint custody; parentage; father's rights). Coates v. Coates, 769 A.2d 1, 171 Vt. 519 (2000); (relief from abuse; subjective fear standard).Perry v. Ethan Allen, Inc, 115 F.3d 143 (2d Cir. 1997); (sexual harassment; notice issues).
Jakab v. Jakab, 664 A.2d 261; 163 Vt. 575 (1994); (divorce-spouse and physical child abuse; judicial notice; religious determination of children).
Allen v. Department of Employment and Training, 618 A.2d 1317; 159 Vt. 286; 69 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 917; 80 Ed. Law Rep. 166 (1992); (sexual harassment; unemployment benefits; school employer).
In re H.A., 572 A.2d 884; 153 Vt. 504 (1990);(child sexual abuse; termination of parental rights).
Community Feed Store v. Northeastern Culvert, 559 A.2d 1098; 151 Vt. 152, (1989); (adverse possession of a right-of-way).
In re H.A., 528 A.2d 756; 148 Vt. 106 (1987); (child sexual abuse; termination of parental rights).
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:
June, 2001 - present. Volunteer attorney representing parties charged with contempt in Family Court (child support) proceedings for no or reduced fees.
April, 200l - April, 2005. Member, Board of Directors, Making The Most Of I, Inc. MMI presents a series of classes and support groups for women, mothers, displaced homemakers in Southeastern Vermont.
June, 1998 - June, 2001. Cooperating attorney, Vermont Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union, Paul Guiliani v. Michael Veitch, Docket No.535-797 Wnc (defense of defamation case-a "SLAPP" suit and First Amendment/free speech case).
April, 1994 - present. Volunteer attorney for wards in guardianship cases assigned by the Marlboro District Probate Court. Representing approximately one client every other year since 1994.
September, 1985 - present. Vermont Volunteer Lawyer. Representing approximately two clients per year in contested family cases, as well as numerous other family law clients, on a pro bono and reduced fee basis.
July 1994 - present. Volunteer assigned attorney representing children in Vermont Family and Juvenile Courts for no or reduced fees.
June, 1983 - June, 1990. Board member, ProChoice Vermont, an affiliate of the National Abortion Rights Action League. Board secretary from 1986 until 1989.
September, 1986 - May, 1990. Co-leader, Junior Girl Scout Troop 634 and Brownie Girl Scout Troop 351, District 13, Vermont Girl Scout Council, Springfield, Vermont.
September, 1988 - December, 1989. Member, Chester Recycling Committee.
March, 1989 - March, 1990. Representative of the Town of Chester to the Southern Windsor-Windham Solid Waste Recycling Planning Committee and Multi-Town Study Group.
November, 1989 - November, 1990, Legislative Coordinator, National Organization for Women, Vermont Chapter.
January - December, 1986. Coordinator, Northern Windham County Coalition for the Vermont Equal Rights Amendment.
June, 1979 - May, 1983. Co-founder and board member, Support for Change, Inc., a network of advocates, safe homes, and support groups for abused women and children and victims of sexual assault and incest in Bellows Falls, Vermont. During this time, I worked as a victim's advocate for the Women's Crisis Center in Brattleboro and did outreach work in Springfield, Vermont, which ultimately resulted in the founding of New Beginnings Women's Support Network. During this time I was a founding member of the Vermont Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which was the predecessor to the Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
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