Family Code 6309 and Due Process
Douglas Rappaport Renée R. Ross Hon. Vanessa A. Zecher (Ret)
APRIL 15, 2026 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
FOREIGN CINEMA | 2534 MISSION STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110
Family Code 6309 is challenging for lawyers and judges. Balancing the due process rights of the parties while ensuring that the discovery process in Domestic Violence Restraining Order proceedings is not used to perpetuate further conflict, intimidate or harass, or serve as a discovery vehicle for pending criminal proceedings can be a complicated analysis. This balancing of the needs of both parties, in consideration of the mandates of 6309, is almost entirely dependent upon the discretion of the judicial officer and what constitutes "good cause". This panel will explore these complex issues from the attorney and judicial perspectives when litigating 6309 issues.
For the last thirty-five years, Douglas Rappaport has been a criminal justice attorney representing both the accused and victims in the California state courts as well as in Federal courts across the United States. He’s tried over a hundred jury trials and has argued cases in the California Court of Appeals and before the California Supreme Court. His clients have included elected officials, professional athletes, CEOs of publicly traded companies, the Hells Angles, attorneys and judges, as well as many indigent individuals on a pro bono basis. He is a State Bar of California Certified Criminal Law Specialist, an AV-rated attorney and is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers. In addition to handling traditional criminal matters, Doug also frequently works with family law practitioners on complex cases involving criminally related issues, including allegations of domestic violence. www.sfcrimlaw.com
Renée Ross, Esq. is a Fellow in both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and International Academy of Family Lawyers. She is certified by the State Bar of California as a Family Law Specialist and runs her own firm with fourteen attorneys and staff with offices in Pleasanton and Oakland, California. Renée has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” each year since 2014 and has received annual recognition as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Northern California and Top 100 Lawyers in Northern California. She has practiced family law in the Bay Area exclusively since 2005, specializing in complex custody and financial matters. Renée is an experienced and effective advocate for her clients in negotiations, court proceedings, and trials. She handles all types of family law matters, including divorce, separation, prenuptial agreements, child custody, child support, spousal support, paternity, domestic partnership adoptions, domestic partnership dissolutions, and complex property division. She has a reputation for being knowledgeable, ethical, and zealous in pursuing the best outcomes for her clients. She is also an active volunteer and leader in the legal community, serving as judge pro tem, mentor, and a speaker on various family law topics. Renée was the 2024 Chapter President for AAML Northern California, and acted as the Chapter’s immediate past president for 2025.
Hon. Vanessa A. Zecher (Ret.) brings over 20 years of experience as both a family law judge and attorney to her role as a neutral at JAMS. She mediates complex family law matters throughout California, including divorce, child custody and support, high asset property division, premarital agreements, and domestic violence cases. During her tenure on the Santa Clara County Superior Court, Judge Zecher presided over hundreds of family law matters and led numerous judicially supervised settlement conferences, helping families resolve disputes efficiently and avoid protracted litigation. She is widely respected for her practical, empathetic approach and her ability to guide parties through emotionally and financially complex conflicts.
Before her judicial appointment, Judge Zecher founded and managed a successful family law firm and served as a mediator, arbitrator, discovery referee, and early neutral evaluator. Her combined experience on the bench and in private practice gives her a comprehensive understanding of litigation strategy, judicial decision making, and effective dispute resolution. In 2025, she was named to Doyle’s Guide’s Leading Family Law Private Judges California list.
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