Federal judges face rising threats and security concerns

Federal judges are facing an escalation in threats, harassment, and intimidation, prompting many to take extreme personal security measures. According to reports from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University and other legal scholars, jurists have been forced to fortify their homes with safe rooms and panic buttons, hire private security, and vary their travel routes to protect themselves and their families.

Data indicates a significant rise in danger. The agency administering the U.S. court system reported that “security incidents of significant concern” increased 57% in fiscal 2025 and are projected to rise again in fiscal 2026. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan previously noted that threats against justices were expected to increase significantly following a 25% rise in 2025.

Judges interviewed for these studies described a “different era” of intimidation characterized by high volume and intensity. Some reported receiving hundreds of threatening phone calls or facing intense online harassment. One anonymous judge admitted to considering alternative rulings to avoid the vitriol that could endanger their family. Some jurists have attributed the hostile environment to increasingly heated rhetoric from political leaders and hostility from the executive branch.