Latest attack on state judge another reminder that Congress should act

On Jan. 18, Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven P. Meyer and his wife, Kimberly, were shot at their home in Lafayette, Indiana. Thankfully, the couple is in stable condition. Police reports indicate that five people have been arrested for their involvement, including one individual whose trial before Judge Meyer was scheduled for Jan. 20.

Judges and court personnel should not have to fear that their work in administering justice will jeopardize their safety or the safety of their loved ones. The increase in attacks against the judiciary, however, has become an existential threat to the rule of law. These attacks threaten the critical role that our state and local courts play: as the courts of general jurisdiction, state and local courts handle 98% of cases filed in the country. In order to protect these courts and their role in maintaining the rule of law, we must protect the people who work within them.

The Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act (S. 2379/H.R. 4602) is an important first step in protecting state and local court personnel through federal legislation. The bill, sponsored by Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chris Coons, D-Del. and Representatives Lucy McBath, D-Ga., and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, would create a state judicial threat and intelligence resource center with the ability to provide training and technical assistance around best practices for judicial safety; conduct security assessments of court houses and judges' homes; and establish a national database for reporting, tracking, and sharing data about threats and attacks. 

In November, the bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent. We encourage swift passage by the House of Representatives.