Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens penalties and DOJ enforcement to protect federal court operations and reduce disruptions, but does so at the cost of substantially increased criminal exposure for protesters and a heightened risk of chilling lawful free‑speech activity (with potential added incarceration costs for taxpayers).
Federal judges, court staff, protected officials, and law-enforcement personnel face fewer disruptions and obstructions at federal courthouses, helping courts operate more safely and efficiently.
The Department of Justice gains stronger sentencing leverage to deter conduct that interferes with court operations.
People who protest near courthouses face much longer maximum prison terms (up to 5 years instead of 1 year) for the same conduct, increasing the severity of criminal penalties against protesters.
Lawful, peaceful protest and free-speech activity near judicial proceedings may be chilled because stronger penalties create a higher risk of severe punishment for participants, including those with disabilities who rely on public demonstrations.
If more defendants receive longer sentences, taxpayers could face higher incarceration and criminal-justice costs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Raises the maximum federal prison term for obstructive picketing or parading near judges from 1 year to 5 years.
Official title: To amend section 1507 of title 18, United States Code, to establish appropriate penalties for obstruction of justice by picketing or parading in or near court buildings or residences of judges, jurors, witnesses, or other court officers.
Introduced April 8, 2025 by David Kustoff · Last progress April 8, 2025
Increases the criminal penalty for obstructing the administration of justice by picketing or parading near a building where a judge—or specifically a Supreme Court justice—resides or performs duties. The bill raises the maximum prison term in the targeted federal statute from one year to five years, making this offense punishable by a significantly longer potential sentence. The change is narrow and purely criminal-law focused: it amends the statutory maximum penalty for a specific obstruction offense and does not create new civil remedies, appropriate funds, or change definitions or enforcement mechanisms beyond the higher maximum sentence.