Judicial Security: Responsibilities and Current Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised April 7, 2008 |
| Report Number |
RL33464 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Lorraine H. Tong, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
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Summary:
The importance of judicial security was underscored by the murders of family members of a Chicago federal judge on February 28, 2005, and the killings less than two weeks later of a state judge, a court reporter, and a sheriff's deputy in an Atlanta courthouse. Shortly after these incidents, the House and the Senate held hearings and legislation was introduced to (among other things) improve courtroom security for judicial officers; safeguard judges and their families at home; restrict postings of personal information about judicial officers and their families on the Internet; extend or make permanent the authority to redact certain information from judicial officers, judicial employees, and their families' financial disclosure forms; and increase penalties for attacks against them and other law enforcement personnel. [â¦] Both federal and state judicial entities have addressed judicial security concerns. By statute, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) within the Department of Justice has primary responsibility for the security of the judiciary. USMS works closely with the Judicial Conference of the United States, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, and the Federal Protective Service within the Department of Homeland Security. Concerns have been raised, however, about the staffing of, and the communication and coordination between, these offices. The Judicial Conference has, among other things, encouraged newly appointed judges to provide personal information to USMS, and urged USMS to provide additional training to marshals and inspectors. The National Center for the State Courts issued a document intended to serve as a framework for state judicial security, and has held two summits on court safety and security.
