H-409 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL NO. 107
_______________________________________________
C 327 L 85
State of Washington 49th Legislature 1985 Regular Session
By Representatives Crane, P. King, Armstrong, Dellwo, Sutherland, Zellinsky, Barnes, Locke, West and Padden
Read first time 1/21/85 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AN ACT Relating to interference with official proceedings; amending RCW 9A.72.110 and 9A.72.130; adding a new section to chapter 9A.72 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 9A.72 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A person is guilty of intimidating a judge if a person directs a threat to a judge because of a ruling or decision of the judge in any official proceeding, or if by use of a threat directed to a judge, a person attempts to influence a ruling or decision of the judge in any official proceeding.
(2) "Threat" as used in this section means:
(a) To communicate, directly or indirectly, the intent immediately to use force against any person who is present at the time; or
(b) Threats as defined in RCW 9A.04.110(25).
(3) Intimidating a judge is a class B felony.
Sec. 2. Section 9A.72.110, chapter 260, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. as amended by section 18, chapter 47, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. and RCW 9A.72.110 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) A person is guilty of intimidating a witness if a person directs a threat to a former witness because of the witness' testimony in any official proceeding, or if, by use of a threat directed to a current witness or a person he has reason to believe is about to be called as a witness in any official proceeding or to a person whom he has reason to believe may have information relevant to a criminal investigation, he attempts to:
(a) Influence the testimony of that person; or
(b) Induce that person to elude legal process summoning him to testify; or
(c) Induce that person to absent himself from such proceedings.
(2) "Threat" as used in this section means
(a) to communicate, directly or indirectly, the intent immediately to use force against any person who is present at the time; or
(b) threats as defined in RCW 9A.04.110(25).
(3) Intimidating a witness is a class B felony.
Sec. 3. Section 9A.72.130, chapter 260, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. and RCW 9A.72.130 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) A person is guilty of intimidating a juror if a person directs a threat to a former juror because of the juror's vote, opinion, decision, or other official action as a juror, or if, by use of a threat, he attempts to influence a juror's vote, opinion, decision, or other official action as a juror.
(2) "Threat" as used in this section means
(a) to communicate, directly or indirectly, the intent immediately to use force against any person who is present at the time; or
(b) threats as defined in RCW 9A.04.110(25).
(3) Intimidating a juror is a class B felony.