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Panel: Survey data show falling faith in courts; experts warn of new threats to judges
Summary
At UW Law, National Center for State Courts research and judges on the panel highlighted a long-term decline in public belief that courts deliver equal justice and reported increased threats and hostile rhetoric — including examples of targeted harassment of judges.
Speakers at the first panel presented survey data and personal testimony about the erosion of public trust and rising threats to judicial officers.
Jesse Rutledge of the National Center for State Courts summarized the organization's ‘‘State of the State Courts’’ survey (most recently run in December 2025) and said the share of respondents who believe state courts provide equal justice has declined over the last decade. "We're now in a position over the last number of years where more people think we're not providing equal justice than those who think that we are," Rutledge said, and focus groups convey a sense that many Americans perceive a two-tiered justice system favoring the wealthy and well connected.
Retired federal judge Bob Lasnick described how hostile rhetoric can translate into real danger for jurists. Lasnick recounted harassment and threats, including anonymous packages sent to family members that referenced the murder of a judge's child: "The message is ... we know where you live," he said, describing how online and political attacks have made judges and their families targets.
Panelists also highlighted other drivers of mistrust. Rutledge raised concerns about artificial intelligence, deep fakes and the potential erosion of courts' fact-finding role; Jeff Feldman said political rhetoric that demonizes judges can amplify danger and urged political leaders and the legal bar to defend judicial institutions publicly.
Panelists stressed practical remedies and shared responsibility: researchers and court administrators should continue monitoring public attitudes, lawyers and bar organizations should help explain and defend judicial processes, and media outreach can improve public understanding of what courts do and why court independence matters.
The panel closed with a reminder that public trust is shaped both by real inequities in the justice system and by leaders' choices about how to speak about judges and courts.
