November 10, 2005

Pryce Votes to Protect Judges
and Courthouses

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1751, the Secure Access to Justice and Court Protection Act of 2005:

“As a former prosecutor and judge, I know that courthouse officials must be able to perform their duties unencumbered by fears of violence or reprisal, and this bill is an appropriate and measured response to recent attacks on court officials.”

“Violence has no place in the courtroom; it threatens the integrity of our fair judicial system and the lives of civil servants and citizens performing their legal duties.”  

“Violent crimes in and around the nation’s courthouses must cease.  The Secure Access to Justice and Court Protection Act contains measures designed to prevent future attacks against judges and the entire courthouse family, protect courthouses, and punish those that commit these crimes.”

H.R. 1751 Highlights

• Stiffens penalties to protect immediate family members of federally funded public safety officials.
• Enhances criminal penalties where the victim is a United States judge, federal law enforcement officer or a federally funded public safety officer. 
• Raises maximum punishments for crimes against victims, witnesses, jurors, and informants. 
• Makes it a federal crime to kill a member of the National Guard when he or she is serving the State as a public safety officer.  
• Prohibits certain personal information regarding certain officials from being published on the Internet.

• Requires coordination on security matters between the U.S. Marshals and the Administrative Office of the U.S Courts.

• Authorizes funding for a state witness protection program.
• Allows state courts to apply for direct court security funding.