Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2020
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (24 Sep 2020): Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
What this bill does
The Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2020 would create new privacy and security protections for federal judges and their immediate families, prompted by the 2020 killing of Daniel Anderl, son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, and a documented rise in threats against judges. The bill would let federal judges request that government agencies withhold or remove specified personal information—such as home addresses, phone numbers, family members' schools, and vehicle or property records—from public records within 72 hours. It would bar data brokers from selling such information and require other businesses to remove it from the internet upon request, with civil penalties including damages for violations. It also authorizes federal grants to help states protect judges' personal information, funding for home security monitoring systems, judicial security training, and expansion of a threat-monitoring program run through the U.S. Marshals Service and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
The bill primarily affects active, senior, recalled, and retired federal judges and their immediate families, as well as government agencies, data brokers, and other businesses that would face new obligations to protect or remove judges' personal information. State and local governments could also receive federal grants to support compliance efforts.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on September 24, 2020, by Senator Robert Menendez, with Senators Booker and Graham as cosponsors, and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It did not receive a vote before the end of the 116th Congress, so it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2020
This bill addresses the security of active and retired federal judges and their immediate families, including by limiting the release of these protected individuals' personally identifiable information.
Specifically, federal agencies may not publicly post a protected individual's personally identifiable information. Furthermore, upon receiving a written request from a protected individual, an agency must within 72 hours remove any such information relating to the individual that has already been posted.
The Department of Justice must award grants to state and local governments to help prevent the release of protected individuals' personally identifiable information.
Additionally, data brokers may not sell the personally identifiable information of a protected individual. Upon receiving a written request from a protected individual, a private party (1) shall not publicly disclose personally identifiable information relating to the individual, and (2) must remove any such information already posted on the internet.
A protected individual may sue to enforce the bill's provisions.
The bill also authorizes additional security for protected individuals, including by providing home intrusion detection systems and expanding the availability of U.S. Marshals Service protection.
Timeline
24 Sep 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Common questions
- What does S. 4711 do?
- The Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2020 would create new privacy and security protections for federal judges and their immediate families, prompted by the 2020 killing of Daniel Anderl, son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, and a documented rise in threats against judges. The bill would let federal judges request that government agencies withhold or remove specified personal information—such as home addresses, phone numbers, family members' schools, and vehicle or property records—from public records within 72 hours. It would bar data brokers from selling such information and require other businesses to remove it from the internet upon request, with civil penalties including damages for violations. It also authorizes federal grants to help states protect judges' personal information, funding for home security monitoring systems, judicial security training, and expansion of a threat-monitoring program run through the U.S. Marshals Service and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The bill primarily affects active, senior, recalled, and retired federal judges and their immediate families, as well as government agencies, data brokers, and other businesses that would face new obligations to protect or remove judges' personal information. State and local governments could also receive federal grants to support compliance efforts. The bill was introduced in the Senate on September 24, 2020, by Senator Robert Menendez, with Senators Booker and Graham as cosponsors, and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It did not receive a vote before the end of the 116th Congress, so it did not become law.
- Has S. 4711 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 4711. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 4711?
- S. 4711 was sponsored by Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] (D-NJ), with 6 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 4711?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (24 Sep 2020).
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