Daria L. DiSilvestro Kulp is an attorney admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She has experience representing abused and neglected children as a per diem law guardian. She also has experience as a law clerk for a New Jersey Superior Court judge, focusing on family law cases. Kulp teaches a mass media law and ethics course as an adjunct professor and has additional legal experience through internships and volunteer work. She received her J.D. from Widener University School of Law and her B.A. from Widener University, graduating summa cum laude.
Karen DeSoto is a life-long resident of New Jersey. She has practiced law as a public defender, prosecutor, and private practice attorney, and is an on-air legal analyst for NBC News. For the latest legal news and insights to cases in the news follow Karen DeSoto.
LEFT BEHIND: HOW STATELESSNESS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LIMIT'S CHILDREN'S A...Stanleylucas
On the first day of school, children often worry whether they’ll make new friends or like their teachers. But in the Dominican Republic, some confront a far graver concern: Will I be turned away because I don’t have a birth certificate? This report published by the Human Rights Institute at Georgetown University Law Center shows that many children born in the Dominican Republic but descended from foreigners, particularly Haitians, are denied an education. For generations, such children were recognized as citizens, but within the last decade, the Dominican government has refused to issue many of them birth certificates, identity cards and other essential documentation, rendering them stateless. The report, Left Behind: How Statelessness in the Dominican Republic Limits Children’s Access to Education, concludes that the Dominican Republic is failing to comply with its domestic and international human rights obligations, including the human right to education. “We wanted to look at the human impact that statelessness has on children through the lens of education as an important enabling right,” said Georgetown Law student Jamie Armstrong, LLM’14, one of the report’s editors. “Education is critical to the development of a child and it is a gateway to full civil, political, economic, social, and cultural participation in society. What we found, however, is that this path is often barred with devastating consequences for children who are stateless or at risk of statelessness.” The report is the product of months of research, including interviews with dozens of affected children and families, as well as educators, advocates and government officials. Several of the Dominicans of Haitian descent interviewed were prevented from attending primary school, secondary school or university because they could not obtain identity documents. Of those allowed to attend school despite not having birth certificates, many were denied the ability to take national exams required to graduate.
All of this occurs in spite of laws, policies, constitutional provisions and international human rights commitments that are meant to guarantee children’s right to education. The report found that administrative barriers, discrimination and confusion about the law has meant that in practice not all children in the Dominican Republic are allowed to go to school, even if they consider themselves Dominicans.
“We just want a miracle from God to get our documents, to have the opportunity to go to school,” said one 14-year-old girl interviewed for the report.
The Georgetown Law Human Rights Institute serves as the focal point for human rights activities at Georgetown Law and promotes Georgetown Law’s role as a leader in the field of human rights.
Karen DeSoto is a life-long resident of New Jersey. She has practiced law as a public defender, prosecutor, and private practice attorney, and is an on-air legal analyst for NBC News. For the latest legal news and insights to cases in the news follow Karen DeSoto.
LEFT BEHIND: HOW STATELESSNESS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LIMIT'S CHILDREN'S A...Stanleylucas
On the first day of school, children often worry whether they’ll make new friends or like their teachers. But in the Dominican Republic, some confront a far graver concern: Will I be turned away because I don’t have a birth certificate? This report published by the Human Rights Institute at Georgetown University Law Center shows that many children born in the Dominican Republic but descended from foreigners, particularly Haitians, are denied an education. For generations, such children were recognized as citizens, but within the last decade, the Dominican government has refused to issue many of them birth certificates, identity cards and other essential documentation, rendering them stateless. The report, Left Behind: How Statelessness in the Dominican Republic Limits Children’s Access to Education, concludes that the Dominican Republic is failing to comply with its domestic and international human rights obligations, including the human right to education. “We wanted to look at the human impact that statelessness has on children through the lens of education as an important enabling right,” said Georgetown Law student Jamie Armstrong, LLM’14, one of the report’s editors. “Education is critical to the development of a child and it is a gateway to full civil, political, economic, social, and cultural participation in society. What we found, however, is that this path is often barred with devastating consequences for children who are stateless or at risk of statelessness.” The report is the product of months of research, including interviews with dozens of affected children and families, as well as educators, advocates and government officials. Several of the Dominicans of Haitian descent interviewed were prevented from attending primary school, secondary school or university because they could not obtain identity documents. Of those allowed to attend school despite not having birth certificates, many were denied the ability to take national exams required to graduate.
All of this occurs in spite of laws, policies, constitutional provisions and international human rights commitments that are meant to guarantee children’s right to education. The report found that administrative barriers, discrimination and confusion about the law has meant that in practice not all children in the Dominican Republic are allowed to go to school, even if they consider themselves Dominicans.
“We just want a miracle from God to get our documents, to have the opportunity to go to school,” said one 14-year-old girl interviewed for the report.
The Georgetown Law Human Rights Institute serves as the focal point for human rights activities at Georgetown Law and promotes Georgetown Law’s role as a leader in the field of human rights.
After a successful Global Dialogues Awarding ceremony Connceting Youth Voices partners set out to this year's International Youth Day something special. Here's more....
After a successful Global Dialogues Awarding ceremony Connceting Youth Voices partners set out to this year's International Youth Day something special. Here's more....
1. DARIA L. DISILVESTRO KULP, ESQ.
2332 South Alder Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19148
(P) 484-557-9537 • (E) dldjd19@gmail.com
Admitted to Practice and a Member in Good Standing of the Legal Bars for the States of Pennsylvania and
New Jersey.
Areas of Interest
Child Abuse and Neglect. Advanced Torts: Defamation, Slander, Libel, Misappropriation, and other
Intellectual Property issues. First Amendment Freedom of Speech Issues and Litigation.
LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
PER DIEM LAW GUARDIAN, OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER Mar. 2016 –
Present
• Represent abused and neglected children in Division of Child Protection and Permanency litigation by
presenting their wishes to the Court and offering recommendations as to how those wishes may best
be accomplished.
• Protect the child-client’s legal rights, and providing advice and guidance about the most realistic
course of action and outcome of litigation.
• Meet with clients to review legal and personal goals and options. Speak with caregivers, teachers, and
experts to assess client’s needs.
• Arrange and procure services the child may need or want in order to develop and thrive despite the
incidents/circumstances that arose and gave the Division cause to involve itself in the child’s life.
LAW CLERK TO THE HONORABLE JOHN J. MATHEUSSEN, J.S.C. Mar. 2014 – Aug.
2015
• Sole law clerk to Superior Court Judge John Matheussen, assigned to the Chancery Division, Family
Part, in Gloucester County, New Jersey.
• Prepared memoranda of law legal research, and case summaries for His Honor concentrating in the
areas of child abuse and neglect, guardianship, adoption, other juvenile proceedings, and temporary
and final restraining orders.
• Mediated family consent conferences on a wide variety of issues including custody, parenting time,
child support, and alimony.
• Trained in mediation and arbitration for Special Civil Matters, with a focus on Landlord-Tenant law
and contract disputes. Individual personal mediation success rate of 91%.
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, WIDENER UNIV.: MASS MEDIA, LAW, AND ETHICS Aug. 2014- Present
2. • Undergraduate Class, taught in the Communication Studies Department.
• Teaching students before they start their careers, the different laws, regulations, and ethical situations
they can expect to encounter or to be regulated by in Mass-Media based careers.
• Students learn the importance of the First Amendment in their chosen future profession, and not just
in its capacity in their individual lives.
VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY, PHILADELPHIA VIP Aug. 2013 –
Mar. 2014
• Litigated no-asset divorce cases by preparing and answering interrogatories, and participating in
depositions and handling requests for production of documents.
• Interviewed clients in order to collect relevant information necessary to file Petition for Divorce.
LEGAL INTERN, WIDENER UNIVERSITY VETERANS LAW CLINIC Jan. 2013 –
Mar. 2014
Assisted veterans in pursuing appeals for VA denials of pension and compensation awards.
LEGAL INTERN, LAW OFFICE OF DOUGLAS L. DOLFMAN, ESQ. May 2012 – Nov.
2012
Sole intern to senior partner of law firm. Performed legal research and wrote memoranda of law. Handled
petitions, motions, requests for discovery, and appeals.
LAW LIBRARY ASSISTANT, WIDENER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Jun. 2012 – Dec.
2012
Assisted faculty, students, and members of the general public in locating library resources.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, WIDENER UNIVERSITY – MAIN CAMPUS Sep. 2007 –
May 2008
Assisted Dr. Ross Steinman in the collection, input, and analysis of information pertaining to consumer research
and spending in the entertainment industry.
FORMAL EDUCATION
J.D., WIDENER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Sept. 2009 - Dec. 2012
High Grades:
Leadership:
• Torts (A-)
• Advanced Torts (A-)
• Legal Methods III (A+)
Daria L. DiSilvestro Kulp, Esq. Résumé – Page 2
phone: 484-557-9537 2332 South Alder Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19148 email: dldjd19@gmail.com
3. Activities:
• Treasurer, Student Animal Legal Defense League
• Women’s law caucus member
• Justinian society member
B.A., WIDENER UNIVERSITY – MAIN CAMPUS Sept. 2003 – May 2008
GPA/Honors:
Leadership:
Activities:
• 3.8 cumulative GPA, Graduated summa cum laude
• President, Honors Program in General Education
• President, Italian Student Association
• National Scholars Honor Society
• International Honors Society in Social Science
• Communication Honors Society of the National
Communication Association
• National Leadership Honor Society
Major/Minor: • Communication Studies/Italian
REFERENCES
Daria L. DiSilvestro Kulp, Esq. Résumé – Page 3
phone: 484-557-9537 2332 South Alder Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19148 email: dldjd19@gmail.com
4. Previous Supervisors:
Daria L. DiSilvestro Kulp, Esq. Résumé – Page 4
phone: 484-557-9537 2332 South Alder Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19148 email: dldjd19@gmail.com
THE HONORABLE JOHN J. MATHEUSSEN, J.S.C.
Gloucester County Justice Complex
70 Hunter Street
Woodbury, NJ 08096
856-686-7414
SUSAN SAIDEL, ESQUIRE
Staff Attorney, Veterans Law Clinic
Widener University
302-477-2162
swsaidel@mail.widener.edu
Previous Co-Workers:
JENNIFER PRIOR, ESQUIRE
Associate, Kraemer & Manes
1150 1st
Ave., Suite 501
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-616-3282
SEETHA HOLMES, ESQUIRE
Office of the Law Guardian
Managing Attorney, Burlington County
609-518-3068
seetha.holmes@opd.nj.gov
CLARESSA TURNBULL, ESQUIRE
Team Leader, Children in Court
Gloucester County Justice Complex
856-686-7428
MELISSA BISHOP, ESQUIRE
Associate, Law Offices of Pamela Hargrove
224 Strawbridge Drive
Moorsetown, NJ 08057
856-642-2908