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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2417 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1632
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
David Paul Linsky
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to enhance safety and security in courthouses.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David Paul Linsky5th Middlesex1/19/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2417 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1632
By Representative Linsky of Natick, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1632) of David
Paul Linsky for legislation to further regulate safety and security in courthouses. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to enhance safety and security in courthouses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 1: Chapter 265 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 13D the following section:
3 Section 13D1/4. Section 13D1/4. Whoever commits an assault or an assault and battery
4in or on the property owned, leased or occupied by the Massachusetts judicial department or an
5agency or committee thereof, including any trial or appellate court, during the time when the
6courts are in session or open to the public may be punished by imprisonment in the state prison
7for not more than three years or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more
8than two and one-half years, or by a fine of not more than $25,000 or by both such fine and
9imprisonment.
10 Section 2: Section 13C of chapter 268 of the General Laws, added by St. 1971, c. 524, is
11hereby amended by striking our the first sentence and inserting in its place the following:-- 2 of 2
12 Whoever causes or actively participates in the willful disruption of proceedings of any
13court of the commonwealth may be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for
14not more than two and one half years or in state prison for not more than three years, or by a fine
15of not more than five thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Nothing in this
16section shall interfere with or prevent the exercise by any court of the commonwealth of its
17power of contempt.
18 Section 3: Section 4 of chapter 275 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking
19out the first sentence and inserting in its place the following:--
20 If the person complained of is convicted, he may be punished by a fine of not more than
21one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, provided that any threat to
22cause bodily injury to a person on account of the person's performance of official duties as a
23judge, employee of the judicial department, including but not limited to clerk magistrates,
24probation officers, interpreters, stenographers, and court officers, prosecutors and attorneys may
25be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one half
26years or in state prison for not more than three years, or by a fine of not more than five thousand
27dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Nothing in this section shall interfere with or
28prevent the exercise by any court of the commonwealth of its power of contempt.