Title: Expressing support for the enforcement of section 1507 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to protests outside of the homes of sitting Supreme Court Justices.
Policy area: Law

Summary:
This resolution condemns the unauthorized leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion concerning abortion and the related violence, property damage, and attempted intimidation of Supreme Court Justices by activists. It also encourages the enforcement of federal criminal laws that prohibit protests and picketing outside of the homes of federal judges, jurors, witnesses, and others involved in the U.S. court system.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1111 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1111

  Expressing support for the enforcement of section 1507 of title 18, 
 United States Code, with respect to protests outside of the homes of 
                    sitting Supreme Court Justices.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 12, 2022

  Mr. Johnson of Louisiana (for himself, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Carter of 
Georgia, Mr. Murphy of North Carolina, Mrs. Rodgers of Washington, Mr. 
 Moolenaar, Mr. Hice of Georgia, Mr. Timmons, Mr. Norman, Mr. Palazzo, 
  Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Graves of Louisiana, Mr. 
 Issa, Mr. Gosar, Mrs. McClain, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. 
McKinley, Mr. Buchanan, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Owens, Mr. Bishop 
of North Carolina, Mr. Good of Virginia, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Smith 
of Nebraska, Mr. Wenstrup, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Arrington, Mr. 
  Guest, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Posey, Mr. Cole, Mr. Long, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. 
    McClintock, Mr. Mullin, and Mr. Zeldin) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for the enforcement of section 1507 of title 18, 
 United States Code, with respect to protests outside of the homes of 
                    sitting Supreme Court Justices.

Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States is charged with guarding, 
        interpreting, and applying the Constitution and ensuring the American 
        people are afforded equal and impartial justice under the law;
Whereas the Court's power of judicial review is a necessary check to ensure that 
        each branch of government does not exceed its authority under the 
        Constitution;
Whereas our constitutional system and the rule of law rely upon the independence 
        of judges who are not subject to the whims of public opinion or the 
        political process;
Whereas the recent leak of a draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health 
        Organization constitutes a grave breach of judicial ethics and a blatant 
        attack on the independence of the Court;
Whereas following the leak of the draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's 
        Health Organization, churches and the headquarters of a pro-life 
        organization were firebombed and vandalized, and activists sought to 
        intimidate Justices of the Supreme Court by protesting outside their 
        homes; and
Whereas Federal law (18 U.S.C. 1507) provides: ``Whoever, with the intent of 
        interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of 
        justice, or with the intent of influencing any judge, juror, witness, or 
        court officer, in the discharge of his duty, pickets or parades in or 
        near a building housing a court of the United States, or in or near a 
        building or residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, or 
        court officer, or with such intent uses any sound-truck or similar 
        device or resorts to any other demonstration in or near any such 
        building or residence, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not 
        more than one year, or both.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the unauthorized leak of the draft opinion in 
        Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization and the ensuing 
        violence, damage to property, and attempted intimidation of 
        Justices of the Supreme Court by proabortion activists;
            (2) expresses deep concern regarding the erosion of 
        Americans' faith in our institutions;
            (3) unwaveringly supports the notion that the judiciary 
        must remain free from political interference and insulated from 
        public opinion so that it may ensure every American is afforded 
        equal and impartial justice under the law; and
            (4) calls upon the Department of Justice to enforce section 
        1507 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to protests 
        outside of the homes of sitting Supreme Court Justices.
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