[118th Congress Public Law 37]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 138 STAT. 11]]
*Public Law 118-37
118th Congress
An Act
To provide remote access to court proceedings for victims of the 1988
Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. <<NOTE: Jan. 26,
2024 - [S. 3250]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REMOTE ACCESS TO COURT PROCEEDINGS FOR VICTIMS OF THE
1988 BOMBING OF PAN AM FLIGHT 103
OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND.
(a) Definition of Victim of Crimes Associated With the Bombing of
Pan Am Flight 103.--In this section:
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the term ``victim
of crimes associated with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103''
means any individual--
(A) who suffered direct or proximate harm as a
result of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 that occurred
over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988, and was
present at or near the scene of the bombing when it
occurred, or immediately thereafter; or
(B) who is the spouse, legal guardian, parent,
child, brother, sister, next of kin, or other relative
of, or who is determined by the applicable district
court of the United States to be an individual who
possesses a relationship of similar significance to, an
individual described in subparagraph (A) or an
individual otherwise described in this subsection.
(2) Limitation.--The term ``victim of crimes associated with
the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103'' does not include an
individual who participated or conspired in the crimes
associated with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
(b) Authorization.--
(1) <<NOTE: Effective date. Abu Agila Mohammed Mas'ud
Kheir Al-Marimi.>> In general.--On and after the date of
enactment of this Act, and notwithstanding any provision of the
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or other law or rule to the
contrary, in order to permit victims of crimes associated with
the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 to access court proceedings in
the criminal case against Abu Agila Mohammed Mas'ud Kheir Al-
Marimi and against any co-conspirator subsequently charged and
prosecuted in a court of the United States for crimes related to
the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the district court of the
United States in such a case shall order that reasonable efforts
be made to make remote video and telephonic access to
proceedings in the case available to victims of crimes
associated with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
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* Note: The original slip law was printed without the public law and
Congress numbers. They have been added as indicated above.
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[[Page 138 STAT. 12]]
(2) No limit on location.--Remote video and telephonic
access to proceedings shall be made available under paragraph
(1) to a victim of crimes associated with the bombing of Pan Am
Flight 103 without regard to the location of the victim of
crimes associated with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
(c) District Court Discretion.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to eliminate or limit the discretion of a district court of
the United States to control the manner, circumstances, or availability
of remote video or telephonic transmissions where necessary to control
the courtroom or protect the integrity of court proceedings or the
safety of parties, witnesses, or other participants in the proceedings.
Approved January 26, 2024.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3250:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 169 (2023):
Dec. 6, considered and passed
Senate.
Vol. 170 (2024):
Jan. 16, 18, considered and passed
House.
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