Federal judges are weighing the idea of creating their own security force as threats against them and their families escalate. The concern comes after President Trump has withdrawn protection from judges he perceives as enemies, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
At least 11 federal judges’ families have received death threats or harassment following rulings against the Trump administration. Some have reported receiving pizza deliveries at their homes, interpreted by many as a message that detractors know where they live. The threats are not limited to online attacks but also involve real-world actions, such as someone sending a SWAT team to Judge John Coughenour’s home after he overturned one of Trump’s executive orders.
Democrats in Congress have introduced a bill to transfer control of the U.S. Marshals from the executive branch to the judicial branch, allowing the Chief Justice and Judicial Conference to appoint a director. The move aims to protect judges’ safety without political interference.
Critics argue that funding for courthouse security remains stagnant, while threats against judges continue to grow. Anti-judicial rhetoric online has increased by 327 percent since May 2024, with calls for impeachment targeting judges on social media platforms like TikTok and Truth Social nearly doubling in the first two months of this year.
Top figures on the far right have openly attacked judges and their families when issuing rulings against the administration. The situation is seen as a threat to constitutional government, with U.S. Circuit Judge Richard Sullivan stating that threats “are ultimately threats to our democracy.”
Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/judges-consider-own-security-force-threats-1235347919