The Supreme Court of Justice announced the opening in Santo Domingo of special court halls to try cases of domestic violence. Diario Libre reports that there will be two halls ? one for criminal cases of aggression, and another for civilian cases of family conciliation. According to Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Subero Isa, the new court will be under the direction of Justice Victor J. Castellanos, who launched the study that showed the need for such a court. ?I am pushing the initiative of Justice Castellanos in order to have it working this month,? said Subero Isa, who feels the new court will help contain what seems to be an epidemic of domestic violence. The Chief Justice also announced that the court is working on modifications to Law 24-97, which governs cases of domestic violence. Statistics indicate that 107 women were killed by their partners in 2002. So far in 2003, 10 women have been killed in situations of domestic violence.