Bill aimed at improving judges’ security gets early OK,
The Texas House on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill aimed at improving security measures for judges following the failed assassination attempt of state District Judge Julie Kocurek, who in 2015 was shot in the driveway of her West Austin home.
The House approved Senate Bill 42, named the Judge Julie Kocurek Judicial and Courthouse Security Act, in a 140-0 vote. It will head to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk following a final vote Wednesday.
The shooting of Kocurek, who has returned to the bench after 26 surgeries, prompted an examination of judicial security that identified several shortcomings and resulted in the bill, which was authored by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and sponsored in the House by Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo.
“This is a bill that really needs to be passed because of the safety of our judges,” Smithee said in brief discussion of the bill on the House floor as Kocurek and Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht looked on from the gallery.
The bill requires judges and courthouse employees to receive additional security training, which would be paid for with a $5 increase to civil court filing fees.
The bill also would remove from publicly available government databases the home addresses and other personal information for state and federal judges and their spouses.