Courthouse Safety Act of 2013

The National Court Reporters Association, as well as state court reporting associations, are coming together in support of S. 445 and HR 953, the Local Courthouse Safety Act of 2013. Previously S. 2076, the Local Courthouse Safety Act of 2012, supporters are hoping to enhance local courthouse security by allowing “courthouses to receive security equipment from federal agencies that are no longer being used, as well as allocate existing federal funding toward courthouse security equipment.” S. 445 was sponsored by Senator Al Franken of Minnesota and co-sponsored by Senator John Boozman of Arkansas, and HR 953 was introduced by Representative Alan Grayson (D-Orlando) in the House, in light of the rise in courthouse violence.

Since the bills have no required costs, it is easier to comply with “Pay-go” spending rules, which require an identified spending reduction or new revenue source to offset the costs of the bill. Both the Senate and House have referred their respective bills to the Judiciary Committee for review.

In March of 2005, Julie Brandau, beloved court reporter in the Superior Court of Atlanta, Georgia, was gunned down, along with her judge, Rowland Barnes. The assailant, Brian Nichols, “believed” that Brandau was “part of the conspiracy against him” because she brought home-baked goods to the jury before whom Nichols was being tried. S. 445 and HR 953 is intended to prevent a repeat of this 2005 tragedy by providing security equipment, as well as training to local courtroom personnel.