In response to a growing number of threats and high-profile cases, the Judicial Conference of the United States has revealed that 67 federal judges are currently receiving “enhanced” security measures, and warned Congress of an urgent funding shortfall that may compromise the safety of judges and courthouses nationwide.
In a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, the Conference — the policy-making body for the federal judiciary — requested increased funding for court security, citing heightened threats and limited resources.
“Currently, 67 judges are receiving enhanced online security screening services provided by the Administrative Office and U.S. Marshals Service due to their involvement in high-profile cases or rulings that have garnered media and social media attention,” the letter stated.
The letter was signed by Judge Amy J. St. Eve, Chair of the Budget Committee, and Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr., Secretary of the Judicial Conference. It warned that the current security infrastructure is under strain, and the U.S. Marshals Service has already had to implement “extraordinary measures” in certain cases to protect members of the judiciary.
“We have significant concerns about our ability to properly secure federal courthouses given current resource levels,” the letter emphasized.
The Judicial Conference reiterated its December 2024 request for $797 million in court security funding, noting that consecutive years of flat budgets are no longer sustainable in light of the escalating threat environment.
The request comes as federal judges are increasingly handling politically sensitive and high-stakes cases — particularly those involving policies or legal challenges connected to the Trump administration — which have sparked backlash online and sometimes resulted in direct threats.
Chief Justice John Roberts, in his 2024 year-end report, also highlighted the growing danger facing judges and the courts. His warning was cited in the Judicial Conference’s letter: “There has been a significant rise in threats to the courts, including direct threats against individual judges,” the letter quoted. It added that approximately 50 individuals have been criminally charged in connection with threats made against members of the judiciary.
St. Eve and Conrad closed the letter by stressing the constitutional role of the judiciary and its limited ability to control the volume or nature of its caseload. “This is a broad mission that depends on sufficient funding from Congress to carry out,” they wrote.
The plea comes amid mounting concerns over the safety of federal judges and the growing politicization of the judiciary, as calls intensify for greater protections in the face of increasing hostility, both online and offline.
