Outside editorial: Judicial security: Congress acts to protect court personnel
Judges, prosecutors and courthouse personnel across the country have been agitating - and rightfully so - for increased security measures since 2005. That year, two members of a Chicago judge's family were murdered in their home by a man whose case was once before the judge. Just weeks later, a criminal defendant went on a shooting rampage in an Atlanta courthouse, leaving four people dead. Last year, a Nevada judge was shot while standing in front of a courthouse window by a sniper who was involved in a divorce proceeding the judge was handling.
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Congress has now responded. Before recessing for the holidays, it passed the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007, which calls for a host of measures to better protect courthouse personnel and to punish those who would harm them. The legislation calls for an additional $200 million to be spent over the next four years on safety measures and includes substantial grants to help states better protect their courthouses and employees.
Penalties for threatening a judge or prosecutor would in many cases double.
A robust and independent justice system depends on the ability of judges, prosecutors and witnesses to perform their duties without fear of harm to themselves or their families. Though it doesn't guarantee security, this legislation should help.