Federal judges report surge in threats, forcing security measures and raising concerns about judicial independence
Two new studies document that federal judges are installing panic buttons, hiring security, and altering routines amid a 57% increase in security incidents.
What happened
Two studies by legal scholars at NYU, UC Berkeley, and the Brennan Center for Justice, based on interviews with dozens of federal judges, document a dramatic increase in threats and harassment against the judiciary. Security incidents of significant concern rose 57% in the year ended September 2025 and were on pace to rise again. Judges reported installing panic buttons, security cameras, and safe rooms; varying commutes; hiring private security; and fortifying homes. One judge acknowledged considering an alternative ruling to avoid threats to the judge's family. Another judge received more than 700 threatening phone calls after hearing a Trump administration immigration case and had home floor plans leaked. U.S. District Judge Esther Salas stated that recent attacks on judges by President Trump and his administration have made her more worried about judicial safety than after her son was killed by a litigant in 2020.
Context
The studies present a portrait of a judicial branch under extreme stress, with judges reporting sleep loss, anxiety about family safety, and feeling overwhelmed. The threat environment is characterized by new volume, intensity, and methods. The concern extends to the rule of law itself, as threats could undermine judicial independence if judges alter decisions based on fear or if the public becomes desensitized to attacks on the judiciary. The reports recommend increased judicial security funding, protection of judges' personal information, and more prosecutions of those making threats, noting few cases have been prosecuted. The studies include interviews across the political spectrum—the NYU-Berkeley study sampled 32 judges split evenly between Democratic and Republican appointees, while the Brennan Center interviewed judges with both Democratic and Republican appointments.