S 2993119th CongressIn Committee

Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2025

Introduced: Oct 9, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-Arkansas)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, titled the Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2025, would extend the authority to carry a concealed firearm to two new groups within the federal and state/local systems: qualified prosecutors and qualified Federal judges (as well as their qualified retired counterparts). It amends existing firearms carry provisions to include these groups, setting out what counts as identification and certification to demonstrate that the individual has met firearm qualification standards. In practice, if enacted, prosecutors, federal judges, and their retirees who meet the specified criteria could carry concealed firearms under rules modeled after those that currently apply to qualified law enforcement officers, with additional state- or agency-based qualification requirements. The bill also standardizes definitions for terms like “firearm,” clarifies who qualifies as a “qualified” prosecutor, judge, or retiree, and requires the Attorney General and the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to issue regulations to implement these changes. The overall aim is to formalize and regulate concealed-carry eligibility for these high-ranking legal officials, subject to testing, certification, and eligibility conditions related to firearms training, mental health, and legal eligibility.

Key Points

1Expands concealed-carry eligibility to include qualified prosecutors and qualified Federal judges (and their qualified retirees), in addition to current qualified law enforcement officers.
2Requires specific identification and certification to carry, including agency-issued photo IDs and evidence of meeting active-duty firearms-qualification standards (or State-certified equivalents) for current prosecutors/judges; for retirees, a similar requirement with a look-back of meeting standards within the prior year.
3Defines who qualifies as a “qualified” prosecutor, judge, and retiree, including professional status, ongoing eligibility to practice law or hold judicial office, absence of disqualifying factors (discipline, intoxication, mental-health determinations, or federal prohibitions on firearm possession), and regular firearms qualification.
4Expands and reorganizes sections of U.S. firearms law (18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C) to include the new categories, with a technical-conforming amendment to the table of sections.
5Authorizes regulations: The Attorney General and the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may issue rules necessary to implement the amendments.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Prosecutors (federal, state, and local) and Federal judges, including qualified retired prosecutors and retired Federal judges, who would be eligible to carry concealed firearms under the new framework if they meet the certification and training requirements.Secondary group/area affected: Agencies employing prosecutors, Federal judiciary administration, firearms instructors, and states that administer or recognize firearm-qualification standards; potential interplay with existing state training standards and internal agency policies.Additional impacts: Potential changes to safety procedures and risk management within court-related environments, increased emphasis on mental health and fitness evaluations for firearm eligibility, and the need for new regulatory guidance from the Department of Justice and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to implement and monitor compliance. The bill clarifies that certain items (machine guns, silencers, destructive devices) remain outside the scope of the definition of “firearm” for these provisions.

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