This bill creates a new cause of action for civil liability against judicial officers. It allows any person injured by a judicial officer's action in a bond determination or sentencing decision to seek relief if the officer acted with intentional disregard for public safety or gross negligence . To establish liability, the injured party must provide clear and convincing evidence , and the relief sought may include punitive damages. The Act specifically defines "intentional disregard for public safety" as an intentional act or omission that ignores evidence, statutory mandates, or clear risks to community safety. Importantly, this legislation explicitly states that any existing Federal or State judicial immunity cannot be asserted in such civil actions, though it does not apply to acts taken in good faith or within ordinary judicial discretion.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Law
Judicial Accountability for Public Safety Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-5649| House
| Updated: 9/30/2025
This bill creates a new cause of action for civil liability against judicial officers. It allows any person injured by a judicial officer's action in a bond determination or sentencing decision to seek relief if the officer acted with intentional disregard for public safety or gross negligence . To establish liability, the injured party must provide clear and convincing evidence , and the relief sought may include punitive damages. The Act specifically defines "intentional disregard for public safety" as an intentional act or omission that ignores evidence, statutory mandates, or clear risks to community safety. Importantly, this legislation explicitly states that any existing Federal or State judicial immunity cannot be asserted in such civil actions, though it does not apply to acts taken in good faith or within ordinary judicial discretion.