Ohio House Gets Tough On Those Who Attack Judges
Published: October 7, 2009
Updated: October 7, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio House has approved tougher punishment for anyone who threatens or assaults a judge, and the legislation could mean a death sentence for murdering a member of the judiciary.
The bill that passed the House on Tuesday now moves to the state Senate.
Its stiffer penalties include a mandatory one-year prison sentence for aggravated assault on a judge or magistrate.
Killing a judge would become an aggravating circumstance for imposing the death penalty for aggravated murder.
Democratic State Rep. Lorraine Fende says increasing reports of attacks and threats against judges led her to introduce the measure.
One Licking County judge has had a fake bomb placed on his car and once received a threatening letter signed in blood.
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Reader Reactions
I don’t think the punishment is based on “worth” but rather likelihood of being attacked. Judges are much higher on the hit list than your wife is (most likely) and therefore the idea of a harsher punishment is aimed at deterring. I personally am not entirely convinced that harsher punishment works as a deterrent but that’s the intention of the law. If the President is assisinated the assasin is faced with treason, but that doesn’t necessarly mean his life is more important than yours (or your wife’s).
I’m not enthused about Sub. H. B. No. 103.
Why is a judge’s life more valuable than any other life?
If a predator intends and attempts to kill a judge, misses the judge and unintendedly kills my wife (not a judge); why is her life worth less than that of the judge’s?
If a predator intends and attempts to kill my wife, misses her and unintendedly kills a judge, unaware that(s)he is a judge; why is the judge’s life worth less than had the predator intended to kill the judge, knowing that (s)he was a judge?
At least 4 house members voted against it.
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