Amy Klobuchar: “I am speaking in favor of S. 378, the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007. I have had a personal experience with…”

“I am speaking in favor of S. 378, the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007. I have had a personal experience with court security issues when I was a prosecutor, the chief prosecutor in Hennepin County. We had a very tragic incident, where a woman who had emotional difficulties came into our courthouse with a gun and gunned down a woman--an innocent woman--who was the guardian of her father's estate and was simply there to help. This had been a long-standing litigation battle. She tracked her down at the courthouse and shot her to death, and shot her own lawyer. Fortunately, he did not die. He survived. But this happened only a few floors below my office. We went on to prosecute this woman, and she was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder and an additional 15 years for the attempted murder. That is why I am such a strong proponent of this bill. The Court Security Improvement Act will significantly improve our ability to protect judicial officials and all those who help to protect the fair and impartial justice system in America.”