PRIA Logo™
119-hr-5649119th Congress

Judicial Accountability for Public Safety Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a private right of action holding judges civilly liable for bond or sentencing choices made with intentional disregard for public safety or with gross negligence. It targets judicial orders about bail, pretrial release, conditions of release, and criminal sentencing.

Show full summary
  • People who say they were injured by a covered bond or sentencing decision could sue and, if they prove harm by clear and convincing evidence, obtain relief the court orders, including punitive damages.
  • Covers U.S. district judges, magistrate judges, bankruptcy judges and other federal judicial officers, plus state and local judges or magistrates acting in criminal proceedings.
  • Removes any federal or state immunity for covered bond and sentencing actions. It defines "bond determination" to include bail and pretrial release and defines "sentencing decision" to include imprisonment, probation, parole, supervised release, involuntary commitment, forfeiture, and other criminal sanctions.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Suing judges for unsafe release or sentencing

If enacted, this bill would let injured people sue a judge for certain bond or sentencing choices. You would need to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that the judge acted with intentional disregard for public safety or with gross negligence and that you were harmed. Covered judges would include federal, state, and local judges in criminal cases, and covered actions would include bail, pretrial release, imprisonment, probation, parole, supervised release, and related conditions or sanctions. Courts could award damages, including punitive damages, and judges could not claim federal or state judicial immunity in these suits. Acts taken in good faith or within ordinary discretion would not be covered; the rules would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]

NC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 12/2/2025

  • Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 12/2/2025

  • Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 12/5/2025

  • Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation