HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 159 FILED ON: 1/6/2017
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 738
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
James M. Cantwell
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the safety of judges.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
James M. Cantwell | 4th Plymouth | 1/6/2017 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 159 FILED ON: 1/6/2017
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 738
By Mr. Cantwell of Marshfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 738) of James M. Cantwell for legislation to protect justices of the Commonwealth and their families from criminal acts and threats. The Judiciary. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1224 OF 2015-2016.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)
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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 Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding thereto the following:-
Section 11O. 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, the justices 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 the State Police to assist in the investigation and prosecution of such cases and for the protection of the members of the judiciary in any such instance.
SECTION 2. Chapter 268 of the General Laws, as so appearing the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following:-
Section 13F. Any person convicted of making threats against any justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, the justices of the Appeals Court or the justices of the several departments of the Trial Court or 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 $25,000 fine.
SECTION 3. Section 26 of chapter 218 of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding in line 26, after the words “sixty eight”, the words:-
“threats against members of the judiciary under section 13D of chapter 268”.