"Court companion" means any of the following individuals whose purpose is to support, assist, or accompany a person who is going to, remaining at, or returning from a court proceeding: a spouse, domestic partner, or person who has a dating or engagement relationship with the party, witness, or potential witness; a biological parent, foster parent, adoptive parent, or stepparent of a party, witness, or potential witness; minor children or other persons under the care of a party, witness, or potential witness; interpreters; translators; a person assisting the party, witness, or potential witness with reading or completing court forms or other documents; persons providing health care or assistance to a party, witness, or potential witness to allow that individual to participate in the court proceeding; a case manager or social worker for the party, witness, or potential witness; a domestic violence or sexual assault advocate; a person transporting a party, witness, or potential witness to or from the court proceeding.
"Court proceeding" means the business conducted by a State court or a matter pending under the jurisdiction or supervision of a State court, including, but not limited to, civil proceedings and criminal proceedings.
"Judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing the arrest" means a written order from a State court or federal Article III court that directs a law enforcement agency or some other person who is specifically named in the order to arrest a person.
"Law enforcement agency" means any entity with statutory police powers and the ability to employ individuals authorized to make arrests.
(Source: P.A. 104-440, eff. 12-9-25.)
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