HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2109        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1595

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to the safety of judges..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 12 of the General Law is hereby amend by adding thereto the following:

Section 11M:  The Attorney General shall exercise exclusive authority to investigate and prosecute all criminal acts and threats made against any justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, justice of the Appeals Court, or the justices of the several Departments of the Trial Court and their immediate family members. In the exercise of this authority, the Attorney General shall have the resources of the Department of Public Safety, State Police, to assist in the investigation and prosecution of such cases and for the protection of the members of the judiciary and their families in any such instance.

SECTION 2. Chapter 268 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding thereto the following:

Section 13 D:  Any person convicted of making threats against any any justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, justice of the Appeals Court, or the justices of the several Departments of the Trial Court and their immediate family members shall be punished by up to two and one half years in the house of correction or up to ten years in State Prison and up to a twenty-five thousand dollar fine.

SECTION 3.  Section 26 of Chapter 218 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the words “threats against members of the judiciary under section Thirteen D of Chapter two hundred sixty eight” after the words “sixty eight” as appearing in line twenty three thereof.