How should you respond to a judge alone in chambers when security concerns arise?

• A. Enter chambers unannounced to assess threat.
• B. Call for a SWAT team.
• C. Follow court protocol, assess threat, secure entrances, stay outside unless invited, and report to supervisor.
• D. Ignore and leave court security to others.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is to act within court security procedures to protect everyone while keeping control of the situation. When a security concern arises in chambers, the proper response is to follow established protocol: assess the threat, secure entrances to limit access, stay outside the chamber unless the judge or supervisors invite you in, and report the situation to your supervisor so the appropriate actions and responders can be coordinated. This approach keeps you aligned with the chain of command and reduces risk of escalation.

Entering chambers unannounced could endanger the judge and staff and violates standard procedure. Calling for a SWAT team without proper authorization disrupts the appropriate response channel, and ignoring the situation or leaving security tasks to others leaves the risk unaddressed.