Threats against federal and Supreme Court judges are at an all time high. As a result, the Federal Judiciary is seeking funds to help combat the alarming trend. Threats and intimidation directed towards judges have been prominent issues, and they have only been intensified by the influence of former President Donald Trump. 

According to the United States Marshal Service, the number of serious threats per year have more than doubled from 2021 to 2023. It has risen from 224 in 2021’s fiscal year to 457 in 2023’s fiscal year. 

Trump, who often turns to social media with his complaints, attacks judges as political enemies and demonizes prosecutors. 

Trump has tweeted “Judge Engoron is a political hack who ruled against me before the trial even started.” In January 2024, he also tweeted in all caps “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!”

According to an investigation by Reuters, an international news agency, there has been a “sharp rise in threats and intimidation directed at judges who have been criticized by former President Donald Trump after ruling against his interests in cases they were hearing.” 

One of these judges is United States District judge Royce Lamberth, who was taken off guard by intense harassment following his rulings for the participants of the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol. 

“I could not believe how many death threats I got,” Lamberth said. “We had never even contemplated that one of us could get killed in this job.” 

Tanya Chutkan, a federal judge of color from Washington who was assigned to a case this year regarding the storming of the Capitol, also received alarming threats. Following a cryptic tweet posted by President Trump, Chutkan received a voicemail. 

“You are in our sights. We want to kill you,” the voicemail stated. “You will be targeted personally, publicly, your family, all of it.” The voicemail also included racial slurs and racially-motivated threats.

This experience is relevant to many judges. Many current and former judges and justices agree that Trump’s harmful rhetoric plays a big role in the need for more security. One judge, former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, believes that Trump's actions have set the stage for more violence. 

“Donald Trump set the stage,” O’Connor said. “He gave permission by his actions and words for others to come forward and talk about judges in terms not just criticizing their decisions, but disparaging them and the entire judiciary.”

As of February 2024, the Supreme Court is seeking 19.4 million dollars to help bolster the security of the judges and the court. In addition, the Federal Judiciary is seeking 805.9 million dollars for the nationwide security of United States District Courts. 

The judiciary hopes that the increase in security will help remedy the growing threats.