The proposed "Judicial Protection Act" aims to enhance the safety and privacy of judges and their immediate family members by restricting the public disclosure of their personal identifying information. The bill defines key terms such as "judge," "immediate family member," and "personal identifying information," which includes sensitive data like residential addresses, phone numbers, and employment details. Judges can request that public bodies or individuals refrain from publicly posting or displaying their personal information, and such requests must be honored within five business days. The act also outlines the process for judges to submit requests for the removal of publicly posted information and establishes that any personal identifying information covered by these requests is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
Additionally, the bill provides legal remedies for judges and their families if their requests are not complied with, allowing them to initiate civil actions against non-compliant public bodies or individuals. It specifies that judges are not required to post security when seeking injunctive relief and mandates that they recover court costs and attorney fees if they succeed in their actions. The act includes various exceptions to its provisions, such as for information relevant to news stories or voluntarily published by the judges themselves. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a safer environment for judges by safeguarding their personal information from public exposure.