Bill would let Court of Appeals bailiffs run threat assessments and receive limited criminal-history data
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Summary
SB 6011 would authorize Court of Appeals bailiffs to conduct threat assessments and receive criminal-history record information, including non-conviction data, for the limited purpose of investigating threats against judicial officers or staff; sponsors said the measure mirrors authority given to other courts and responds to increasing threats to judges.
The committee heard SB 6011 on Feb. 18, a bill requested by the Court of Appeals to permit bailiffs to conduct threat assessments and receive certain criminal-history record information for the purpose of investigations into threats against judicial officers and staff.
Staff explained that the measure allows the Court of Appeals to receive criminal-history record information that includes non-conviction data exclusively for investigating threats and requires referral to local law enforcement for credible threats. The bill would require the Court of Appeals to ensure bailiffs are qualified by training and experience and forbids dissemination or use of criminal-history records outside authorized purposes.
Sen. Manka Dhingra (45th Legislative District), the sponsor, said the bill mirrors language previously enacted for the Supreme Court and Superior Court and responds to an increase in threats against judicial officers. She said the judiciary realized it needed both authority and resources for training and security, and that a companion bill would authorize hiring security personnel.
Members asked about bailiff training and earlier negotiated language; the sponsor said the bill is modeled after recently negotiated Supreme Court language and should be identical. No vote was taken that day.
