Legislation sponsored by U.S. Sen. Al Franken would assist local officials to improve security at courtrooms and courthouse across Minnesota.
The “Local Courthouse Safety Act” was passed with strong bipartisan support by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee last week. The bill now heads to the full Senate for debate. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is a cosponsor of the bill.
Franken said many local courthouses, especially in rural and suburban areas, lack even basic security measures like metal detectors. The Local Courthouse Safety Act would address security concerns by:
• Providing local courts with access to security training;
• Giving states authority to use existing grant money to improve courthouse security; and
• Cutting through bureaucratic red tape, giving local courts access to excess federal security equipment, such as metal detectors and screening devices.
“Our local sheriffs, judges, and other court personnel, as well as the public, should be able to carry on business in our local courthouses knowing they are safe," said Franken. "My legislation will give courthouses the resources they need to keep people safe, and I’m pleased that it will move to the Senate floor. I'll continue fighting to make sure every Minnesotan's day in court is safe."
Local measures
Armed security is provided when court is in session at the Koochiching County Courthouse.
Koochiching County Board Chairman Brian McBride said he applauds Franken for authoring the bill and Klobuchar for co-sponsoring it.
McBride said he would defer to the local sheriff if funding and equipment becomes available through the bill. And, he said, he will be interested to see what he county needs to do to access that equipment and funding.
“But I really dread the day that small communities like ours have to turn our courthouse into some kind of armed camp,” said McBride. “It’s a state of society that we have to look at doing things like this.”
McBride said residents should be able to go to their local county courthouse to see the auditor, access or, and attorney without passing through security.
“But if it gets to that, it looks like we may have that opportunity through this legislation,” he added.
Franken, D-Minn., said a Dec. 15 shooting at the Cook County Courthouse that injured a prosecutor and witness prompted the legislation.
Klobuchar, D-Minn., who served as a Hennepin County prosecutor said she recalls a shooting that occurred in the Hennepin County Government Center and the resulting prosecution and enhanced security measures.
"The recent shooting at the Cook County Courthouse demonstrates that more needs to be done to keep local courthouses safe, and today’s action is good news for this bill that will help improve security and prevent future violence,” she said last week.
In addition to Franken and Klobuchar, the Local Courthouse Safety Act is cosponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; John Cornyn, R-Texas; Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; Chris Coons, D-Del.; John Boozman, R-Ark.; John Hoeven, R-N.D.; and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.
