Ohio House gets tough on those who attack judges

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio House has approved tougher punishment for anyone who threatens or assaults a judge, and the legislation could mean a death sentence for killing a member of the judiciary.

The bill that passed the House on Tuesday now moves to the state Senate. Its stiffer penalties include a mandatory one-year prison sentence for aggravated assault on a judge or magistrate. Killing a judge would become an aggravating circumstance for imposing the death penalty for aggravated murder.

Democratic State Rep. Lorraine Fende says increasing reports of attacks and threats against judges led her to introduce the measure. One Licking County judge in central Ohio has had a fake bomb placed on his car and once received a threatening letter signed in blood.