The installation of security systems in the homes of the nation’s federal judges has been stalled because of a dispute between the judges and the United States Marshal Service over who will pay monthly service fees for the devices. Congress appropriated $12 million to pay for the installations, but the distribution of that money is contingent on the dispute resolution.
A spokeswoman for the Judicial Conference of the U.S. told the Chicago Tribune there are a number of other issues stalling the device installations, including a delay in the selection of a contractor to perform that service.
The installation of these systems was a top priority for the Marshals Service at the beginning of the year after the murders of Judge Loan Lefkow’s mother and husband in Chicago, and the killing of another judge, a federal agent and two others in Atlanta.
Many of the judges in the Chicago area have purchased their own security systems. Establishing a reimbursement policy for these and other similar cases is another issue the two bureaus must face.
