After Wilkinson killing, Maryland judiciary pushes for minimum courtroom security standards and a data collection plan

Judiciary leaders told the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Feb. 12 that courtrooms across Maryland lack consistent, minimally acceptable security staffing and urged lawmakers to set statewide minimum standards. Senate Bill 621 would establish that standard in law and require a statewide assessment so the General Assembly can consider funding a multi‑year phased implementation.

Chief Justice Fader said the task force created after the 2023 assassination of a Maryland judge recommended "at least one qualified court security officer in every courtroom, and a second officer for proceedings involving incarcerated individuals." The proposal also requires the 26 entities that provide courthouse security — county sheriffs, the District Court, and the Administrative Office of the Courts for the appellate courts — to report facility assessments so the legislature can quantify staffing shortfalls and budget needs.

Administrative Judge Audrey Carreon, who oversees the Baltimore City Circuit Court, described a string of recent incidents: threats to judges, destruction of courthouse property, telephone threats and harassing emails, and a recent case where an individual entered a district courthouse vestibule and died by suicide. "Without consistent security presence, the risk of violent outbursts and disruptions increases, placing everyone at risk," she told the committee. Carreon said the Baltimore City bench currently has only 18 of 34 positions filled and noted competing salary levels for court security staffing.

The task force that produced the recommendation reviewed national best practices, including standards from the National Center for State Courts and models used in Arizona and Georgia. Brett Wilson, who chaired the task force's standards work group, said those models were grounded in hard lessons — citing past courthouse murders and escapes in other states — and recommended Maryland adopt a 1‑per‑courtroom minimum as "the reasonable, minimal, acceptable standard."

District Court Chief Judge John Morrissey emphasized the volume of visitors — the District Court reported more than 2.5 million visitors last year — and recounted recent discoveries of firearms and weapons at courthouse entries. "We need your help," he told senators, adding that bailiffs and court staff had prevented multiple potentially deadly incidents.

Cost and process questions: Committee members pressed witnesses on cost and implementation. The bill includes a reporting requirement to collect authoritative data on existing staffing and facilities across jurisdictions; task force members said inconsistent record‑keeping and differing definitions of "court security officer" across agencies made it impossible to produce an accurate statewide cost estimate in time for the hearing. The task force recommended a phased funding approach with state support diminishing over five years as localities assume full costs, but witnesses said the exact price tag will depend on each county's gaps.

Sheriff Michael Harrison of Baltimore City told the committee he supports a statewide standard but warned the sheriff's office is not funded to meet it today. "I wanna do everything my administrative judge wants me to do," he said. "But if you look at my situation in Baltimore City, I'm not funded to do that." Several sheriffs' offices provided written testimony asking that the legislature consider local fiscal impacts and possible state assistance.

Next steps: The bill calls for the 26 responsible entities to submit facility and staffing assessments to the judiciary and to the legislature; those reports are expected to inform any budget requests for court security staffing. Committee members called the recommendations urgent given recent incidents but said they would need concrete cost estimates to evaluate a funding plan.