Senators present Bill to protect judges from the Supreme Court

After an escalation of political violence in recent years, including demonstrators in the houses of the judges of the Supreme Court, several senators in the United States Presentation of legislation Wednesday to increase sanctions for those who threaten federal judges, especially Supreme Court judges.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Senator Mike Lee, Rutah; and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss.; And senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Aurge the maximum penalty for violating 18 USC § 1507 from one year to five years.

We can be prosecuted under article 1507 if he or she “with the intention of influencing a judge. . . In the execution of his duties, his stakes or his parades. . . in or near a building or a residence occupied or used by this judge. The statue’s offenders may also face criminal monetary sanctions.

“Judges of the Supreme Court must be able to do their work without fear of intimidation, prejudice or violence against them or their families,” Blackburn said in a press release. “The law on the protection of our judges of the Supreme Court will dissiminate the intimidation of our judges and send a clear message that anyone will try to harm them will be punished for the measure of the law.”

“No The member of the court should fear for their security or their families during his constitutional functions, “said Cruz in a statement.

“Judges of the Supreme Court faced a disturbing number of threats aimed at modifying business results for political purposes,” Lee said in a statement. “This aggression against the rule of law and an independent judicial system cannot bear. The congress must be clear: trying to intimidate the judges and their families will land you in prison for a long time. »»

The legislation occurs while judges and other federal officials are increasingly threatened. In June 2022, a Nicholas Roske went to the district of judge Brett Kavanaugh in a assassination attempt on conservative justice. The man had planned to “penetrate, shoot him and then shoot me”. He was only dissuaded because his sister was able to persuade him from going to the place.

In March 2020, the majority chief of the time, Chuck Schumer, Dn.y. had threatened Kavanaugh and judge Neil Gorsuch, both appointed by President Donald Trump, on the steps of the Supreme Court.

“I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you released the whirlwind and you will pay the price!” Schumer exclaimed. “You will not know what has struck you if you are advancing with these horrible decisions!” The context of the comments was an abortion rally.

After roe c. Wade has been canceled, activists from the extreme left wing started to protest THE Judges residences on the ground, and a Map with addresses of five conservative judges were published online. None of the demonstrators were charged by the Ministry of Justice under the presidency of the time Joe Biden with violation of the section.