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A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members, and for other purposes.

4/19/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Judicial Security Improvements and Funding - (Sec. 101) Amends the federal judicial code to require the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States (Judicial Conference) on a continuing basis regarding the security requirements of the judicial branch.

(Sec. 102) Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to: (1) authorize the Judicial Conference to allow redactions of personal information of family members of judges from financial disclosure forms filed by such judges; (2) extend through 2009 the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact certain personal information of judges from financial disclosure reports; and (3) require the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to include in its annual report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees additional information about redactions from financial disclosure forms.

(Sec. 104) Amends the federal judicial code and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the U.S. Marshals Service to provide security for the U.S. Tax Court.

(Sec. 105) Authorizes an additional appropriation in each of FY2007-FY2011 for the U.S. Marshals Service for protection of the judiciary. Requires such additional funding to be used for: (1) hiring entry-level deputy marshals to provide judicial security; (2) hiring senior-level deputy marshals for investigating threats to the judiciary and for providing protection for members of the judiciary and assistant U.S. attorneys; and (3) the Office of Protective Intelligence.

Title II: Criminal Law Enhancements To Protect Judges, Family Members, and Witnesses - (Sec. 201) Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the filing (or attempts or conspiracies to file) in any public record any false lien or encumbrance against the real or personal property of any U.S. officer or employee on account of the performance of that officer's or employee's official duties, knowing such lien or encumbrance is false. Impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years for violations.

(Sec. 202) Prohibits the public disclosure of restricted personal information about a federal officer or employee, witness, or juror (or immediate family members) with the intent to threaten or cause harm to such individuals. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to five years for violations.

(Sec. 203) Prohibits the possession of dangerous weapons in federal court facilities.

(Sec. 204) Sets forth venue requirements for prosecutions for retaliation against a witness.

(Sec. 205) Increases maximum prison terms for tampering with, or retaliating against, a witness, victim, or informant.

(Sec. 207) Increases maximum prison terms for voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.

Title III: Protecting State And Local Judges And Related Grant Programs - (Sec. 301) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to include as a required use of community-based justice grants the creation and expansion of state, local, or Indian tribe witness protection programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2011.

(Sec. 302) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to make state courts eligible for grants to improve court security (correctional options grants) and for armor vests.

Title IV: Law Enforcement Officers - Requires the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on the security of assistant U.S. attorneys and other federal attorneys arising from the prosecution of terrorists and other violent criminals. Requires such report to include information on the number and nature of threats and assaults against such attorneys, security measures in place to protect such attorneys, programs available to such attorneys for personal security training, secure parking spaces for such attorneys, and the role of the U.S. Marshals Service in protecting such attorneys.

Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the federal judicial code to: (1) authorize through FY2010 the U.S. Sentencing Commission to enter into multi-year procurement contracts and to make advance, partial, progress, or other payments for property or services to the same extent as executive agencies; (2) extend certain life insurance benefits to bankruptcy, magistrate, and territorial judges; (3) expand the powers of judges who have retired from active service (senior judges) to include all powers of a sitting judge, including participation in the appointment of court officers, the selection of magistrate judges, rulemaking, governance, and administrative matters; (4) reduce the number of judges on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 12 to 11; and (5) increase the number of judges on the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 28 to 29.



Latest Actions
  • 04/20/2007 - Received in the House.
  • 04/20/2007 - Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  • 04/20/2007 - Held at the desk.
  • 04/19/2007 - Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4729-4744)
  • 04/19/2007 - S.AMDT.897 Amendment SA 897 proposed by Senator Ensign. (consideration: CR S4729-4732 text: CR S4729-4730) To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for the appointment of additional Federal circuit judges, to divide the Ninth Judicial Circuit of the United States into 2 circuits, and for other purposes.
  • 04/19/2007 - S.AMDT.897 Point of order raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 897.
  • 04/19/2007 - S.AMDT.897 Amendment SA 897 ruled out of order by the chair.
  • 04/19/2007 - Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
  • 04/19/2007 - Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay. 97 - 0. Record Vote Number: 135. (text: CR S4742-4744)
  • 04/19/2007 - S.AMDT.897 Amendment SA 897 proposed by Senator Ensign. (consideration: CR S4729-4732; text: CR S4729-4730) To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for the appointment of additional Federal circuit judges, to divide the Ninth Judicial Circuit of the United States into 2 circuits, and for other purposes.
  • 04/18/2007 - Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S4636-4653)
  • 04/18/2007 - Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 93 - 3. Record Vote Number: 133. (consideration: CR S4636 text: CR S4636)
  • 04/18/2007 - Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.
  • 04/18/2007 - Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  • 04/18/2007 - Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4653-4666)
  • 04/18/2007 - The committee reported amendment was agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4653-4655)
  • 04/18/2007 - S.AMDT.896 Amendment SA 896 proposed by Senator Leahy. (consideration: CR S4661-4662, S4665 text: CR S4661) To make technical changes.
  • 04/18/2007 - S.AMDT.891 Amendment SA 891 proposed by Senator Coburn. (consideration: CR S4662-4665, S4665 text: CR S4662) To express the sense of the Senate that Congress should offset the cost of new spending.
  • 04/18/2007 - S.AMDT.896 Amendment SA 896 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
  • 04/18/2007 - S.AMDT.891 Motion to table amendment SA 891 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 59 - 38. Record Vote Number: 134.
  • 04/18/2007 - Cloture motion on S.378 presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4666 text: CR S4666)
  • 04/18/2007 - Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 93 - 3. Record Vote Number: 133. (consideration: CR S4636; text: CR S4636)
  • 04/18/2007 - S.AMDT.896 Amendment SA 896 proposed by Senator Leahy. (consideration: CR S4661-4662, S4665; text: CR S4661) To make technical changes.
  • 04/18/2007 - S.AMDT.891 Amendment SA 891 proposed by Senator Coburn. (consideration: CR S4662-4665, S4665; text: CR S4662) To express the sense of the Senate that Congress should offset the cost of new spending.
  • 04/18/2007 - Cloture motion on S.378 presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4666; text: CR S4666)
  • 04/16/2007 - Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4470)
  • 04/16/2007 - Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4470-4471 text: CR S4470)
  • 04/16/2007 - Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S4470)
  • 04/16/2007 - Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4470-4471; text: CR S4470)
  • 03/29/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. With written report No. 110-42. Additional views filed.
  • 03/29/2007 - Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 107.
  • 03/01/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
  • 03/01/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 10:00 a.m.
  • 02/15/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. S-216. 10:00 a.m.
  • 02/14/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
  • 01/24/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1062-1063)
  • 01/24/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1063-1065)
Bill Text
File name Last Updated
S.378 Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by Senate08/31/2007
S.378 Reported in Senate08/31/2007
S.378 Introduced in Senate08/31/2007

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