US federal judges face surge in threats and intimidation

Two new reports from legal scholars at New York University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Brennan Center for Justice reveal a significant surge in threats against federal judges. The studies, based on testimony from dozens of sitting and retired judges, describe a judicial branch under unprecedented pressure due to the volume and intensity of harassment.

Judges reported facing various forms of intimidation, including death threats, swatting, doxxing, and “pizza doxxing,” where unsolicited food is sent to their homes to signal their location is known. Some judges have taken extreme measures to protect their families, such as installing panic buttons, building safe rooms, hiring private security, and fortifying their homes. One judge reported that the leak of their home floor plans online prompted the construction of a safe room.

According to a March report from the agency administering the U.S. court system, security incidents of significant concern increased 57% in the year ending September 2025. The reports highlight concerns regarding judicial independence, with one anonymous judge admitting to considering an alternative ruling to avoid vitriol that could endanger their family.