House Judiciary Committee hears bill to shield judges' personal data after attacks

The Michigan House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4397, the Judicial Protection Act, a proposal to let judges request that certain personal identifying information be withheld from public disclosure to reduce threats and targeted harassment.

U.S. District Judge Esther Salas described the 2020 attack at her home that killed her son and wounded her husband and urged lawmakers to act. "By protecting judges' personally identifiable information and sealing that information, you are going to ensure that your judges in Michigan are safer," Judge Salas told the committee.

The bill's supporters and stakeholders, including Judge David McKeague of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Nathan Triplett, director of public policy and governmental relations for the State Bar of Michigan, told the committee the legislation mirrors federal protections and fills gaps for state and local judges.

What the bill would do House Bill 4397 would allow judges — state, federal and tribal — to submit a written request on a form prescribed by the state court administrative office to restrict public posting or display of certain personal identifying information. The bill, as presented during the hearing, limits the protected information to items with a demonstrated link to safety and security, for example a permanent residential address, license-plate numbers and information about a judge's children's school or daycare.

If a public body or private person does not comply with a written…