Two recent studies have revealed that federal judges in the US have responded to threats and harassment by increasing personal security, with one judge even considering changing a ruling to protect their family. The studies, conducted by legal scholars at New York University, the University of California – Berkeley, and the Brennan Center for Justice, found that “security incidents of significant concern” to judges rose by 57 percent in the year ending September 2025.
Amrit Singh, director of NYU’s Rule of Law Lab and lead author of the NYU-Berkeley study, reported that judges were overwhelmed and struggled to sleep, and had installed security cameras and panic buttons in their homes. A judge who pondered issuing a different decision told Singh that they had grappled with fear for almost an hour before ultimately sticking with the judgment that was in line with the law.
Threats and Harassment
Another judge who heard an immigration case involving the Trump administration received over 700 threatening phone calls and had their home’s floor plans leaked, leading them to construct a safe room. This judge’s experience highlights the dangers faced by judges who are targeted for their rulings.
Gowri Ramachandran, the Brennan Center’s director of elections and security and co-author of the other study, stated that “long term, there really is a danger to the rule of law from these threats.” Both studies called for increased financing for judicial security and better protection of judges’ personal information.
Impact on the Judiciary
US district judge Esther Salas, who contributed to both studies, expressed concern that the public would become numb to dangerous rhetoric against the judiciary. She also stated that President Trump and his administration had contributed significantly to judges’ fears for their safety.
Read Also: Victoria Supreme Court issues AI use guidelines
The NYU-Berkeley study interviewed 32 active US district and appellate judges and 2 active magistrate judges, while the Brennan Center study spoke to 35 sitting and retired federal judges. Judges feared for the safety of their families, installing panic buttons in their homes
The studies’ findings suggest that the threats and harassment faced by judges could have a lasting impact on the judiciary, potentially undermining the rule of law. Ramachandran noted that the danger posed by these threats is not limited to individual judges, but also to the broader institution of the judiciary.
Recommendations
The studies recommended increased prosecution of individuals who threaten judges, as well as better protection of judges’ personal information. The NYU-Berkeley study also urged for increased financing for judicial security, highlighting the need for concrete measures to address the threats faced by judges.
Security is a major concern.
