Serious threats against federal judges, prosecutors spike

Serious threats against federal judges and prosecutors in the United States have skyrocketed in recent years, according to data collected by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The federal agency responsible for “the security of federal court facilities and the safety of judges and other court employees” said it has seen a dramatic increase in threats targeting its officials, many of them due to political rivalries. thinking.

In fiscal year 2023, there were 457 serious investigative threats against federal judges. That number was up from 300 in 2022 and 224 in 2021. According to the data, there were 220 recorded threats against federal judges in 2020 and 179 in 2019. .

There are 155 threats against federal prosecutors that need to be investigated in 2023, up from 93 in 2022. There were 68 serious threats against federal prosecutors in 2021 and 72 in 2020.

Marshalls director Ronald Davis told Reuters: Who first reported the data?authorities said they believe the sharp increase in threats is related to the country’s deep political divisions.

The surge began around the time of the 2020 presidential election, when courts heard a series of highly politicized lawsuits stemming from former President Trump’s refusal to concede defeat.

Additionally, officials involved in Trump’s various legal matters have reported threats related to Trump’s state and federal criminal charges and more than half a dozen civil lawsuits.

Officials have also reported threats from activists stemming from the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Reuters reported.

Davis told the outlet the sheriff’s office has “increasing concerns” about threats fueled by political division and online hostility. Previously, threats were usually only made by people who were angry about a judge’s decision in their case, but now threats are made by people who are angry about politics .

“The current threat environment that I’m concerned about is that people disagree with the judicial process and the government, and that turns into verbal attacks,” Davis told Reuters. “And it begins a process that threatens the judiciary and threatens our democracy.”