S. 2379 — Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act

This section adds to the definitions in the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 a new term, "eligible organization," meaning a national nonprofit organization that (1) provides technical assistance and training on, and has expertise and national-level experience in, judicial security and safety at the State and local levels; (2) has experience in courthouse design and courthouse security design standards; (3) has an understanding of State judicial operations and public access to judicial services; and (4) 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. (The State Justice Institute awards grants to state courts to improve judicial administration and access to justice.)

This section authorizes the State Justice Institute to provide financial and technical support through grants to eligible organizations to establish, implement, and operate a State judicial threat intelligence and resource center with the following functions: (1) providing technical assistance and training on judicial security, including judicial officer safety education for judicial officers, courts, and local law enforcement; creating resources and guides on judicial security; and conducting physical security assessments for courts, homes, and other facilities used for court-related business; (2) proactively monitoring threats to the safety of State and local judges and court staff; (3) coordinating with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to mitigate such threats; (4) developing standardized incident reporting and threat evaluation practices for State and local courts in coordination with State and local law enforcement and fusion centers; (5) developing a national database for reporting, tracking, and sharing information on threats and incidents involving judicial officers and court staff with relevant entities, including law enforcement and fusion centers; and (6) coordinating research to identify, examine, and advance best practices on judicial security. (As background, the State Justice Institute awards grants to State and local courts and related organizations to conduct research, provide training and technical assistance, and improve State judicial systems.)

This section requires the State Justice Institute to submit an annual report to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, not later than one year after establishment of a state judicial threat intelligence and resource center (under section 3), detailing the number of threats to state and local judiciary members and court staff with breakdowns by type of threat and level of seriousness.