FL S1838

Expands Florida's threat and harassment protections under s. 836.12 to cover general magistrates, special magistrates, child support enforcement hearing officers, and their administrative assistants, in addition to judges, law enforcement officers, and other officials already protected

Creates a new crime of "tampering with a court official" (s. 918.12) for knowingly using intimidation, physical force, threats, misleading conduct, or pecuniary offers to influence a court official, with penalties scaled from third-degree felony up to life felony based on the severity of the underlying proceeding

Creates a new crime of "harassing a court official" for intentionally harassing a court official in a way that hinders, delays, or dissuades them from attending proceedings, rendering fair verdicts, or following juror deliberation rules, with penalties similarly scaled to the severity of the affected proceeding

Creates a new crime of "retaliating against a court official" (s. 918.125) for threatening bodily injury or damaging property in retaliation for a court official's participation in an investigation or proceeding, punishable as a third-degree felony or a second-degree felony if bodily injury results

Defines "court official" broadly to include judges, justices, magistrates, grand and petit jurors, clerks, deputy clerks, judicial assistants, administrative assistants, attorneys, child support hearing officers, bailiffs, and court deputies, with an effective date of October 1, 2025