TRENTON, NJ – A new bill has been introduced aimed at safeguarding the personal identifying information of judicial officers and their immediate family members from unauthorized disclosure. This legislation targets the posting or publishing of such information on the internet, criminalizing actions done with the intent to harm or expose these individuals to harassment.
The bill delineates “personal identifying information” broadly, encompassing names, home addresses, photographic images, and other identifiable data. Judicial officers include members of the judiciary across federal, state, and municipal levels. Immediate family members, defined expansively, are also protected under this bill, recognizing the potential risks they face by association.
Offenses under this legislation are graded severely. A reckless violation is considered a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. Purposeful violations escalate to third-degree crimes, with penalties increasing to three to five years of imprisonment and fines up to $15,000.
Additionally, the bill opens the door for civil action by affected judicial officers or family members, setting a preponderance of the evidence as the standard of proof. It allows for actual and punitive damages, litigation costs, and other appropriate relief, emphasizing the importance of protecting the privacy and safety of judicial figures and their families.