33rd / 424th District Courts

You knew I was going to write about it -- too much courthouse violence in the news to ignore it. At the bottom of this posting I'm going to post a bunch of links to current news on both the Atlanta courtroom shootings and the earlier Tyler shootings outside the courthouse. Log in and "talk to me" in the forum.

My questions to you are these: Are our courthouses sufficiently secure? Can "it" happen here? Do we have an obligation to the general public (not to mention court personnel and attorneys) to make sure that the courthouse and courtroom is secure? Are there distinctions to be made between the courtoom in particular and the courthouse generally? Is it unduly inconvenient to the public to have to go through a metal detector at the main door? How do the courthouses in the 33rd Judicial District stack up to other courthouse where you practice? Do you feel personally safe in our courthouses?

Links to articles on the internet:

Atlanta

Sheriff's Deputies Vow Denver Courtrooms are Safe ---- Courthouses Are Magnets for Problems ---- Lawyers: Court security extensive (in Atlanta) ---- Previous Attacks Directed at Judges ---- Witness: 'He just pointed the gun at me' ---- Atlanta manhunt moves beyond carjacked Honda ---- (Nancy) Grace: Atlanta courthouse shootings a tragedy ---- Today's Courthouse Shooting Brings Back Memories of a Similar Incident ---- Utah Courts Buzzing with Talk of Security ---- Officials Evaluate Security in Courts ---- Atlanta in Chaos after Three Slain in Court ---- (more links to follow)

Tyler

3 dead, 4 hurt in Texas courthouse shooting Thurs. ---- Video Shows Texas Courthouse Shooting ---- Gunman Kills 2 Outside Texas Courthouse ---- (links to follow)