Influencing jurors and witnesses-judges amendment.

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation incorrectly states that the penalty reduction is from two years to five years, but the official source material shows it was reduced from ten years to five years.

Amending Laws to Protect Judges

This law changes existing rules to include judges as people who can be influenced, intimidated, or impeded by threats and force, and it also reduces the maximum punishment for such actions.

What This Bill Does

• Adds judges to a list of officials that cannot be influenced, intimidated, or impeded using threats or force.
• Clarifies that 'officers' in this context includes judicial officers like judges.
• Specifies that retaliating against jurors, judges, witnesses, and other judicial officers is also illegal under these rules.
• Reduces the maximum prison time for breaking these rules from ten years to five years.

Who It Names or Affects

• Judges
• Jurors
• Witnesses
• People who might try to influence or intimidate judges, jurors, witnesses, and other judicial officers

Terms To Know

judicial officer

A person with a role in the legal system, such as a judge.

retaliate against

To punish someone for something they did or might do.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies to actions taken after July 1, 2024.
• It does not specify how judges and other officials will be protected in practice.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 24LSO-0368

Bill No.:

SF0030

Effective:

7/1/2024

LSO No.:

24LSO-0368

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0005

Chapter No.:

15

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Influencing jurors and witnesses-judges amendment.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Amending the offense of influencing, intimidating or impeding jurors, witnesses, and officers.

Summary/Major Elements:

Current law provides that a person commits a felony when the person, by force or threats, attempts to influence, intimidate or impede a juror, witness or officer in the discharge of that person's duty.

This act includes judges as an object of the offense (along with jurors and witnesses) and clarifies that "officers" refers to "judicial officers."

The act also specifies that the offense can be committed by using force or threats or by retaliating against a juror, judge, witness or other judicial officer.

The act reduces the maximum term of imprisonment for the offense from ten (10) years to five (5) years.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

24LSO-0368

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0030

ENROLLED ACT NO. 5,

SENATE

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2024 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; clarifying that judges are covered under the offense of influencing, intimidating or impeding jurors, witnesses and officers; amending the penalty for intimidating or impeding jurors, judges, witnesses and officers; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
5
‑
305(a) is amended to read:

6
‑
5
‑
305.

Influencing, intimidating or impeding jurors, judges, witnesses and officers; obstructing or impeding justice; penalties.

(a)

A person commits a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than
ten (10)
five (5)
years, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both, if, by force or threats, he attempts to influence, intimidate
or
impede
or retaliate against
a juror,
judge,
witness or
other judicial
officer in
relation to
the discharge of his duty.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2024
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1