Legislation & Politics

Letter to Rep. Louie Gohmert supporting H.R. 1751, the "Secure Access to Justice and Court Protection Act of 2005"

October 24, 2005

The Honorable Louie Gohmert
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Gohmert:

On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the tens of thousands of police and deputy sheriffs, corrections, probation and parole officers and court employees that we represent, I am writing in support of your legislation, H.R. 1751, the "Secure Access to Justice and Court Protection Act of 2005."

Your bill will address the recent spate of violence against judges and other judicial employees and their families and boost security in courthouses. Criminals who carry firearms into courtrooms, threaten or intimidate law enforcement and judicial court employees, or assault, kidnap, or murder judges must be deterred from such acts, and your bill, by increasing the penalties for such crimes, will go a long way towards accomplishing that goal.

AFSCME is well aware of such high-profile attacks on law enforcement personnel because recently one of our corrections officers, Wayne "Cotton" Morgan, was gunned down while transporting a prison inmate from the main courthouse in Kingston, Tennessee back to the Brushy Mountain Correction Complex in Petros, Tennessee. Your legislation would make such an act a federal crime punishable from a minimum of 30 years up to life in prison or death.

Another key provision in your bill would make grants to states and local governments to create and expand witness protection programs. AFSCME also supports this provision because many crimes go unpunished for want of a credible witness. Many witnesses would come forward if they could rely on protection from law enforcement personnel and such programs.

Once again, on behalf of our law enforcement and judicial employee members, we appreciate your efforts to pass legislation to combat violence in the courtroom and boost overall security surrounding judicial proceedings. If we can assist you in your efforts, please do not hesitate to contact Jayne Clancy, Legislative Affairs Representative

Sincerely,

 

Charles M. Loveless
Director of Legislation

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