Bill Would Give Protection to Former Justices

Prompted by threats against California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird, legislation has been introduced in the Senate to provide former Supreme Court judges with police protection.

Sen. Nicholas C. Petris (D-Oakland) said Bird, who was defeated at the polls Nov. 4 for reconfirmation, did not request the bill.

“She has received a lot of threats before and unfortunately after the election,” said Bird’s executive assistant, Stephen T. Buehl.

Burt Oliver, chief deputy director of the state Administrative Office of the Courts, said he asked for the legislation because of “innumerable” threats against Bird and against other members of the court over the last year.

Under current law, court justices can receive protection by the State Police, if they want it. The Petris measure would extend this to former members of the Supreme Court. Bird and two defeated associate justices--Cruz Reynoso and Joseph R. Grodin--will leave the court Jan. 5.

“It concerned me, based on the level and intensity of the hate mail that had been received and the threats, that there still could be a security problem after Jan. 5,” Oliver said.

Petris, an attorney and campaign supporter of Bird, said the legislation authorizing protection by the State Police would apply to any current or former member of the state Supreme Court upon the request of the chief justice and agreement of the state director of general services.