Bill Summary
The "Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act" aims to enhance the safety and security of state and local judges and court staff by amending the State Justice Institute Act of 1984. The legislation authorizes the State Justice Institute to provide financial and technical support to eligible nonprofit organizations that specialize in judicial security and safety.
Key provisions of the bill include the establishment of State Judicial Threat Intelligence and Resource Centers, which will focus on several critical areas:
1. **Training and Technical Assistance:** The centers will offer training programs for judicial officers and local law enforcement on safety protocols and judicial security measures.
2. **Threat Monitoring:** They will proactively monitor threats against judges and court personnel, ensuring timely responses to potential risks.
3. **Law Enforcement Coordination:** The centers will work closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to mitigate threats.
4. **Incident Reporting:** Development of standardized practices for reporting and evaluating incidents related to judicial safety will be prioritized.
5. **Information Sharing:** A national database will be created to track and share information about threats to judicial officers, enhancing communication among relevant agencies.
6. **Best Practices Research:** The centers will research and promote best practices in judicial security.
Additionally, the State Justice Institute is required to submit an annual report detailing threats to judiciary members and court staff, including the nature and severity of those threats, to Congress. This legislation emphasizes the importance of enhancing the safety of judicial officials in the face of increasing threats to their security.
Possible Impacts
The "Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act" could affect people in the following ways:
1. **Enhanced Safety for Judges and Court Staff**: The establishment of a State judicial threat intelligence and resource center will provide judges and court staff with better training and resources on judicial security. This could lead to a safer working environment for these individuals, reducing the risk of threats and attacks, and improving their overall job security and well-being.
2. **Improved Public Confidence in the Judicial System**: By proactively monitoring threats against judges and courts, and coordinating with law enforcement, the legislation aims to enhance the security of the judicial process. This could lead to increased public trust in the judicial system as people feel assured that their judges are protected, which is essential for the integrity of the justice system.
3. **Better Coordination and Response to Threats**: The creation of standardized incident reporting and threat evaluation practices will ensure a more efficient and effective response to any threats faced by judges and court personnel. This could lead to quicker interventions when threats arise, ultimately protecting judicial officers and ensuring that court operations can continue without disruption, benefiting all individuals who rely on the judicial system.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4602 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4602
To amend the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 to authorize the State
Justice Institute to provide awards to certain organizations to
establish a State judicial threat intelligence and resource center.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 22, 2025
Mrs. McBath (for herself, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Gooden, Mr.
Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Moran,
and Mr. Kustoff) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 to authorize the State
Justice Institute to provide awards to certain organizations to
establish a State judicial threat intelligence and resource center.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Countering Threats and Attacks on
Our Judges Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
Section 202 of the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C.
10701) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (8)(B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) `eligible organization' means a national nonprofit
organization that--
``(A) provides technical assistance and training
on, and has expertise and national-level experience in,
judicial security and safety at the State and local
levels;
``(B) has experience in courthouse design and
courthouse security design standards;
``(C) has an understanding of State judicial
operations and public access to judicial services; and
``(D) has experience working with a wide array of
different judges and court systems, including an
understanding of the challenges facing trial courts,
appellate courts, rural courts, and limited-
jurisdiction courts at the State and local levels.''.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE JUDICIAL THREAT INTELLIGENCE AND
RESOURCE CENTER.
Section 206(c) of the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 (42
U.S.C. 10705(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (14), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (15) as paragraph (16); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
``(15) to provide financial and technical support to
eligible organizations to establish, implement, and operate a
State judicial threat and intelligence resource center to--
``(A) provide technical assistance and training
around judicial security, including--
``(i) providing judicial officer safety
education and training for judicial officers,
courts, and local law enforcement;
``(ii) creating resources and guides around
judicial security; and
``(iii) providing physical security
assessments for courts, homes, and other
facilities where judicial officers and staff
conduct court-related business;
``(B) proactively monitor threats to the safety of
State and local judges and court staff;
``(C) coordinate with Federal, State, and local law
enforcement agencies to mitigate threats to the safety
of State and local judges and court staff;
``(D) develop standardized incident reporting and
threat evaluation practices for State and local courts
in coordination with State and local law enforcement
and fusion centers;
``(E) develop a national database for reporting,
tracking, and sharing information about threats and
incidents towards judicial officers and court staff at
local and State levels with entities working in the
interest of judicial security, including State and
local law enforcement and fusion centers; and
``(F) coordinate research to identify, examine, and
advance best practices around judicial security.''.
SEC. 4. REPORTS.
Not later than 1 year after the date on which a State judicial
threat intelligence and resource center is established under paragraph
(15) of section 206(c) of the State Justice Institute Act of 1984, as
added by section 3 of this Act, the State Justice Institute shall
submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives an annual
report on the number of threats to State and local judiciary members
and court staff, with breakdown of types of threats and level of
seriousness.
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