Key facts
- Federal judges are implementing enhanced security measures, including panic buttons and private guards, due to an increase in threats.
- Judges report a significant rise in threats and harassment since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term.
- The nature of threats has shifted to rapid online amplification, exposing judges and their families to danger.
- A Brennan Center for Justice report indicates that all interviewed judges perceive current threats as more serious than in the past.
- The U.S. judiciary experienced a 57% increase in security incidents of significant concern in fiscal year 2025.
- Judges are increasingly speaking out to defend judicial independence and their colleagues, citing a need to educate the public.
Federal judges are increasingly implementing enhanced security measures, including panic buttons and private guards, in response to a significant rise in threats and harassment. This trend is particularly concerning since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, with judges attributing the escalation to politically charged cases, online attacks, and rhetoric from political leaders.
U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, who experienced a fatal attack on her family, stated that the situation has become "so much more dangerous." Judge Beth Bloom noted that threats, once confined to letters or protests, are now amplified online at high speed, exposing judges and their families to danger from afar. Bloom recounted an instance where her home address was posted online, leading to threats and requiring U.S. Marshals Service protection.
A report by the Brennan Center for Justice highlighted that all 35 judges interviewed believe threats are more serious today, with several identifying Trump's return to office as a turning point. The judiciary's fiscal year 2027 discretionary budget indicates a 57% increase in "security incidents of significant concern" for federal judges in fiscal year 2025. The U.S. Marshals Service has reported 601 investigations and 425 threats to judges year-to-date as of September 1.
Despite traditional judicial reluctance to speak publicly, judges like Bloom are coming forward to defend judicial independence and colleagues, citing Ethics Opinion 118. The White House, however, defended the right to criticize court rulings, with spokesperson Lauren Bis stating that criticizing a judge's ruling does not equate to calling for violence and that the administration's policies have been upheld in court.
Judges emphasize that they do not choose their cases and are obligated to rule based on facts and law, regardless of political consequences. Rhetoric from Trump and his allies, including Stephen Miller and Elon Musk, is identified as a significant factor contributing to the hostile environment. Trump has previously described judges who ruled against his administration with terms like "Crooked" and "MONSTERS." A social media post by DHS General Counsel James Percival listing judges who ruled against the administration was also cited as concerning.
While many judges focused on rhetoric since Trump's second term, remarks by other political leaders, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's comments at a 2020 rally, were also mentioned. Retired Judge Kimberly Mueller described the issue as a longstanding problem amplified by the social media environment, calling the current situation a "fever pitch."