Penalties for harassing or assaulting judges to prevent them from performing their duties will be enhanced under a bill Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has signed into law. The legislation, which creates a new crime in Penal Law of assault on a judge, would also apply when a judge suffers a serious physical injury as the result of an assault. Assault on a judge will become a Class C felony when the legislation goes into effect in 120 days. A Class C felony carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
A409/S2143 applies to both state-paid and local justices. Its sponsors, Assemblywoman Eileen M. Gunther, D-Forestburgh, and Senator John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, called an assault on a judge an attack on the integrity of the judicial system. They noted that criminal penalties have already been enhanced for those who attack or harass on-duty police officers, firefighters or emergency medical technicians.
