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U.S. SENATOR PATRICK
LEAHY
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CONTACT: Office of Senator
Leahy, 202-224-4242 |
VERMONT |
Statement of
Senator Patrick Leahy
Executive Business Meeting
S. 2742 Supreme Court Legislation
September 21,
2004
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 their authority to provide security
for their justices when they leave the Supreme Court. Recent reports of
Justice Souter’s mugging highlight the importance of off-campus security
for Justices. If no congressional action is taken, the authority of
Supreme Court police to protect its Justices off of 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 its own authority to accept gifts but it would narrow the
types of gifts that can 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.
I encourage my colleagues to
work together for immediate passage of this uncontroversial legislation.
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