Bill Sponsors
Kallman, Euer, Bissaillon, Ciccone, Murray, Zurier, McKenney, Mack, Quezada, and Acosta
Committee
Senate Judiciary
Summary
Select
The "Protect Our Courts Act" prohibits the "civil arrest" of individuals who are attending, traveling to, or returning from court proceedings. This protection extends to parties in a case, witnesses, and their family members. A civil arrest is defined as one not primarily for criminal prosecution or contempt of court. The bill mandates that such arrests can only occur if a judge issues a specific warrant authorizing them. It allows individuals or the Attorney General to sue for violations and requires the court system to create rules regulating how law enforcement officers operate within courthouses.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Ensures that undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable populations can access the justice system (e.g., for domestic violence hearings) without fear of being detained by immigration enforcement.
- Empowers the community and the Attorney General to hold law enforcement accountable through civil actions and contempt proceedings if they violate the sanctity of the court.
- Strengthens due process and social justice by preventing the court system from being used as a trap for civil enforcement actions.
Cons for Progressives
- The bill still permits civil arrests if a judicial warrant is obtained, which may not fully stop aggressive enforcement tactics if judges routinely sign such orders.
- The definition of "civil arrest" excludes criminal matters, potentially allowing law enforcement to use minor criminal pretexts to detain individuals they fundamentally seek for civil reasons.
- Reliance on court administrators to promulgate specific rules leaves some implementation details open to interpretation or delay.
Pros for Conservatives
- Protects the sovereignty and orderly administration of state courts by preventing outside agencies from disrupting proceedings.
- Establishes clear, structured protocols for law enforcement officers entering courthouses, ensuring better security coordination with court personnel.
- Upholds the traditional common law privilege of safe passage to and from courts, which is a foundational legal principle.
Cons for Conservatives
- Impedes federal immigration officers (ICE) and other law enforcement from executing their duties and detaining individuals who are in violation of federal civil laws.
- Creates a liability risk for law enforcement officers who may face lawsuits or contempt charges for attempting to enforce valid civil writs or orders.
- May be viewed as creating a "sanctuary" space that shields individuals breaking the law from the consequences of their actions while they are in transit.
Constitutional Concerns
There is a moderate constitutional risk regarding the Supremacy Clause. If the legislation is interpreted as state law impeding the enforcement of federal law (specifically federal immigration warrants), it could face a preemption challenge. However, the bill frames this as a privilege regarding court access—a traditional area of state control—and allows arrests with a judicial warrant, which attempts to mitigate the conflict with federal authority.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Immigrants
- Law Enforcement Officers
- Court Personnel
- Attorneys
- Victims of Domestic Violence
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
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Freedom Impact
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Public Services
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Regulatory
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Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
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Privacy Impact
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/09/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Title 12 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER 34 PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT
12-34-1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Protect Our Courts Act."
12-34-2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Civil arrest” means an arrest that is not:
(i) For the sole or primary purpose of preparing the person for criminal prosecution for an alleged violation of the criminal law of this state, another state, or the United States, for which a sentence of imprisonment is authorized by law and which requires an appearance before a judicial officer; or
(ii) For contempt of the court in which the court proceeding is taking place or will take place.
(2) “Court proceeding” means any appearance in a court of this state before a judge, justice, or magistrate ordered or scheduled by such judicial officer, or the filing of papers designed to initiate such an appearance.
(3) “Family or household member” shall have the same meaning as set forth in § 12-29-2.
(4) “Judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing such civil arrest” means an arrest warrant or other judicial order issued by a judicial officer of a local, state, or federal court, authorizing a civil arrest and issued by the court in which proceedings following such arrest will be heard and determined.
12-34-3. Privilege from civil arrest at court proceedings.
(a) A person duly and in good faith attending a court proceeding in which such person is a party or potential witness, or in which a family or household member is a party or potential witness, shall be privileged from civil arrest while going to, remaining at, and returning from the place of such court proceeding, unless such civil arrest is supported by a judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing such civil arrest.
(b) It shall constitute contempt of court and false imprisonment for any person to willfully violate § 12-34-3(a), or an order of the court issued pursuant to § 12-34-6, by executing an arrest prohibited by this section or by willfully assisting in such prohibited arrest; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall affect any right or defense of any person, law enforcement officer, peace officer, or public officer acting pursuant to lawful authority, or any judicial branch personnel acting lawfully pursuant to their duty to maintain safety and order in the courts.
12-34-4. Civil actions; enforcement.
Regardless of whether a proceeding for contempt of court pursuant to § 12-34-3(b) has been initiated:
(1) A person described in § 12-34-3(a) may bring a civil action for appropriate equitable and declaratory relief if such person has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of §§ 12-34-3 or 12-34-6 has occurred or may occur; and
(2) The attorney general of the State of Rhode Island may bring a civil action in the name of the state to obtain appropriate equitable and declaratory relief if the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of §§ 12-34-3 or 12-34-6 has occurred or may occur.
(3) In any successful action pursuant to § 12-34-3, a plaintiff or petitioner may recover costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.
12-34-5. Preservation of existing rights.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to narrow, limit, or otherwise lessen any common law or statutory right or privilege of a person privileged from arrest under this chapter or otherwise.
12-34-6. Authority of the courts.
In order to maintain access to the courts and open judicial proceedings for all persons in their individual capacity and to prevent interference with the needs of judicial administration, any LC003706 - Page 2 of 4 court of this state shall have the authority to issue appropriate judicial orders to protect the privilege from civil arrest in accordance with this chapter.
12-34-7. Courthouse arrest procedures; rulemaking.
The chief justice of the supreme court, or the court administrator acting under the authority of the chief justice, shall promulgate rules consistent with this chapter to ensure the following:
(1) Any representative of a law enforcement agency who, while acting in an official capacity, enters a courthouse of this state intending to observe an individual or take an individual into custody shall identify himself or herself to court security personnel and state the specific law enforcement purpose and proposed enforcement action.
(2) Any warrant or judicial order concerning such intended arrest shall be promptly reviewed by appropriate judicial personnel.
(3) Except in extraordinary circumstances, no arrest shall be made in a courtroom without leave of the court.
(4) No civil arrest shall be executed inside a courthouse of this state except pursuant to a judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing such arrest.
(5) An incident or occurrence report shall be filed for every enforcement action taken inside a courthouse.
12-34-8. Limitation on actions against judiciary personnel.
No action or proceeding may be commenced pursuant to this chapter against the judicial branch or any judicial branch personnel acting lawfully pursuant to their duty to maintain safety and order in the courts.
12-34-9. Severability.
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions or applications of this chapter, and to that end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
12-34-1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Protect Our Courts Act."
12-34-2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Civil arrest” means an arrest that is not:
(i) For the sole or primary purpose of preparing the person for criminal prosecution for an alleged violation of the criminal law of this state, another state, or the United States, for which a sentence of imprisonment is authorized by law and which requires an appearance before a judicial officer; or
(ii) For contempt of the court in which the court proceeding is taking place or will take place.
(2) “Court proceeding” means any appearance in a court of this state before a judge, justice, or magistrate ordered or scheduled by such judicial officer, or the filing of papers designed to initiate such an appearance.
(3) “Family or household member” shall have the same meaning as set forth in § 12-29-2.
(4) “Judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing such civil arrest” means an arrest warrant or other judicial order issued by a judicial officer of a local, state, or federal court, authorizing a civil arrest and issued by the court in which proceedings following such arrest will be heard and determined.
12-34-3. Privilege from civil arrest at court proceedings.
(a) A person duly and in good faith attending a court proceeding in which such person is a party or potential witness, or in which a family or household member is a party or potential witness, shall be privileged from civil arrest while going to, remaining at, and returning from the place of such court proceeding, unless such civil arrest is supported by a judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing such civil arrest.
(b) It shall constitute contempt of court and false imprisonment for any person to willfully violate § 12-34-3(a), or an order of the court issued pursuant to § 12-34-6, by executing an arrest prohibited by this section or by willfully assisting in such prohibited arrest; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall affect any right or defense of any person, law enforcement officer, peace officer, or public officer acting pursuant to lawful authority, or any judicial branch personnel acting lawfully pursuant to their duty to maintain safety and order in the courts.
12-34-4. Civil actions; enforcement.
Regardless of whether a proceeding for contempt of court pursuant to § 12-34-3(b) has been initiated:
(1) A person described in § 12-34-3(a) may bring a civil action for appropriate equitable and declaratory relief if such person has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of §§ 12-34-3 or 12-34-6 has occurred or may occur; and
(2) The attorney general of the State of Rhode Island may bring a civil action in the name of the state to obtain appropriate equitable and declaratory relief if the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of §§ 12-34-3 or 12-34-6 has occurred or may occur.
(3) In any successful action pursuant to § 12-34-3, a plaintiff or petitioner may recover costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.
12-34-5. Preservation of existing rights.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to narrow, limit, or otherwise lessen any common law or statutory right or privilege of a person privileged from arrest under this chapter or otherwise.
12-34-6. Authority of the courts.
In order to maintain access to the courts and open judicial proceedings for all persons in their individual capacity and to prevent interference with the needs of judicial administration, any LC003706 - Page 2 of 4 court of this state shall have the authority to issue appropriate judicial orders to protect the privilege from civil arrest in accordance with this chapter.
12-34-7. Courthouse arrest procedures; rulemaking.
The chief justice of the supreme court, or the court administrator acting under the authority of the chief justice, shall promulgate rules consistent with this chapter to ensure the following:
(1) Any representative of a law enforcement agency who, while acting in an official capacity, enters a courthouse of this state intending to observe an individual or take an individual into custody shall identify himself or herself to court security personnel and state the specific law enforcement purpose and proposed enforcement action.
(2) Any warrant or judicial order concerning such intended arrest shall be promptly reviewed by appropriate judicial personnel.
(3) Except in extraordinary circumstances, no arrest shall be made in a courtroom without leave of the court.
(4) No civil arrest shall be executed inside a courthouse of this state except pursuant to a judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing such arrest.
(5) An incident or occurrence report shall be filed for every enforcement action taken inside a courthouse.
12-34-8. Limitation on actions against judiciary personnel.
No action or proceeding may be commenced pursuant to this chapter against the judicial branch or any judicial branch personnel acting lawfully pursuant to their duty to maintain safety and order in the courts.
12-34-9. Severability.
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions or applications of this chapter, and to that end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.