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Senators, witnesses warn of threats to judges as rhetoric escalates; calls for stronger judicial security
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Summary
The hearing highlighted a spike in threats to federal judges and their families, discussed potential investigations, and considered legislative and administrative steps to strengthen judicial security and marshal independence.
Lawmakers and witnesses at a joint Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing described a recent rise in threats and harassment directed at federal judges and their families and urged stronger protections and investigations.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, ranking member on the subcommittee, told the panel that judges who ruled against the administration and their families had been subject to harassment and credible threats. “In a 6 week period from March through April, 162 judges received threats to themselves or family members,” Whitehouse said, and he described a campaign of pizzas sent to judges’ homes, some using the name of a judge’s murdered son as an implicit intimidation tactic.
Senator Dick Durbin and other senators described letters they had sent to the attorney general and the FBI requesting investigations into orchestrated harassment campaigns. Durbin said he had asked for information on steps taken to protect judges and their families and that he had not received a response from the Department of Justice by the time he spoke.
Witnesses agreed that threats to judicial safety have risen and urged federal law enforcement to investigate possible coordination. Professor Kate Shaw recommended stronger judicial security measures and noted a pending proposal to transfer responsibility for the U.S. Marshals Service from the executive branch to the judiciary to reduce political influence over judicial protection.
Several senators raised 18 U.S.C. § 1507 — the federal statute that criminalizes demonstrations near a judge’s residence intended to influence or intimidate — and discussed whether increasing penalties or enforcing the statute more vigorously would help deter threats. Witnesses generally supported vigorous enforcement and urged careful calibration of any legislative expansions to avoid unintended First Amendment conflicts.
Committee members from both parties said they support protecting judges’ safety. Senators also cautioned that congressional rhetoric should not further inflame threats; some Republican senators pointed to past protests at justices’ homes during prior years as bipartisan examples of problematic conduct.
The hearing produced no direct enforcement action; senators said they would continue oversight and follow up with written questions and requests to the Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshals Service.
