[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SECURITY FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of 
S. 2742, which is a short but important piece of legislation that 
Senator hatch and I have cosponsored at the request of the Supreme 
Court. This legislation would renew authority to provide security for 
the Justices when they leave the Supreme Court. Recent reports of the 
assault of Justice Souter when he was outside of the Supreme Court 
highlight the importance of security for Justices. If no congressional 
action is taken, the authority of Supreme Court police to protect 
Justices off court grounds will expire at the end of this year.
  Another provision in this legislation allows the Supreme Court to 
accept gifts ``pertaining to the history of the Supreme Court of the 
United States or its justices.'' The administrative office of the 
Courts currently has statutory authority to accept gifts on behalf of 
the judiciary. This provision would grant the Supreme Court authority 
to accept gifts but it would narrow the types of gifts that can be 
received to historical items. I think this provision strikes the proper 
balance.
  Finally, this legislation also would provide an additional venue for 
the prosecution of offenses that occur on the Supreme Court grounds. 
Currently, the DC Superior Court is the only place of proper venue 
despite the uniquely Federal interest at stake. This legislation would 
allow suit to be brought in United States District Court in the 
District of Columbia.

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