Every day, judges make life-changing decisions from the bench, and receive many threats as a result. These threats set in motion a pathway to violence paved by certain behavioral indicators that alert law enforcement and trained professionals to be on guard. Listen in as court security expert John Muffler talks to Chief Judge Don Myers about threat assessment, workplace safety, and the steps you can take to prepare for and prevent violence.

Show Notes

1:12 - John Muffler’s background and work

2:30 - Are threats becoming more pervasive in our society?

4:30 - Copy cat violence and the 24-hour news cycle

5:28 - Mosaic Threat Assessment Systems

7:27 - Federal judicial threats

8:47 - Different threats to public figures, schools, domestic violence, and the judiciary

10:24 - Highly personal and impactful decisions made by judges

12:30 - Stressful courtroom dynamics and the behavioral pathway

13:05 - Most likely point of impromptu violence in courtroom

14:00 - Spectrums of threat communication

14:50 - The first first responder and violence intervention

15:22 - Dangerous attack points for judges and public officials

17:28 - Hunters, Howlers, and sharing information with law enforcement

20:10 - Situational awareness, intuition, and what fits and doesn’t fit

21:50 - Routine and a false sense of security

24:52 - Having armed deputies in courtroom as a danger deterrent

26:00 - The human factor, policies, and leadership responsibility

26:42 - Emergency training and failure

28:04 - Judicial security vulnerabilities and preparation

29:30 - Two-way information flow between the courts and the sheriff

30:33 - Analysis of the shooting of Judge Kocurek in Austin, Texas

37:45 - Judiciary live in the community they serve