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.

Bill: 117-hres-1111
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4]
Introduced: 2022-05-12
Policy area: Law
Latest action: action_date: 2022-05-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-05-12
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: IV 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1111 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

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.