Barrett Warns Threats Against Judges Are at High Levels
Justice Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress flagging elevated threats against judges while pushing for a larger Supreme Court security budget.
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett issued a stark warning Wednesday, telling lawmakers that the threat level facing federal judges is "really high" as she and fellow Justice Elena Kagan appeared before Congress to advocate for the high court's annual budget request, which includes a significant increase in security spending.
Barrett and Kagan's joint testimony marks a rare instance of sitting Supreme Court justices directly addressing Congress on institutional needs, underscoring how seriously the court's leadership views the current security environment. The two justices, appointed by presidents from opposing parties, presented a united front on the urgency of protecting members of the judiciary.
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The push for elevated security funding comes against a backdrop of growing concern over harassment and physical threats directed at judges at all levels of the federal bench. High-profile rulings in recent years have intensified public attention on the courts, with advocacy groups and law enforcement officials documenting a rise in threatening communications and incidents near justices' private residences.
While the justices did not detail specific threat intelligence during their public testimony, Barrett's characterization of risk as "really high" signals that court officials regard the danger as acute and ongoing rather than episodic. The budget request reflects an institutional judgment that existing security infrastructure must be expanded to meet current demands placed on the U.S. Marshals Service and other protective agencies responsible for guarding the justices.
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