Three bipartisan bills aimed at enhancing the security of judges in Wisconsin have been signed into law by Governor Tony Evers. The legislation was requested by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in response to increasing threats against judges. The signing ceremony on March 27 was attended by several notable figures, including Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Jill J. Karofsky and other judicial officials.
The Judicial Security Package was crafted by the Legislative Committee of the Judicial Conference, following a request from Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler, who has emphasized the importance of judicial safety. This committee worked alongside various judicial colleagues to develop three key bills:
- AB 965: Picketing and Parading
- AB 966: Judicial Officer Privacy
- AB 967: Withholding Judicial Security Profiles from Public Access
Chief Justice Ziegler expressed her concerns about rising threats and acts of violence against judges, referencing the murder of Judge John Roemer in 2022 as a catalyst for these legislative efforts. She stated, "Judicial security has been a priority of mine throughout my time as the Chief Justice... I wish to thank our bipartisan bill sponsors and cosponsors for their tireless work... I am glad to see that judicial security is supported across the aisle."
The Picketing and Parading bill classifies picketing near a justice's home with intent to influence or obstruct justice as a Class A misdemeanor, carrying penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and nine months imprisonment.
The Judicial Officer Privacy bill provides privacy protections for judicial officers and their families, making it a Class G felony to post personal information online if it could lead to harm.
The third bill ensures that judicial security profiles used for emergency planning are exempt from public records disclosure.
For further details, contact Stephen Kelley, Wisconsin Courts Public Information Officer, at 608-261-6640 or Communications@WIcourts.gov.