Supreme Court Justices Seek Increased Security Funding

Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan of the Supreme Court are set to appear before Congress, marking a rare occasion to discuss the urgent need for enhanced security measures due to rising threats against the judiciary.

This Tuesday’s hearing will be the first of its kind since 2019, focusing primarily on the court’s proposal for a budget increase of $16.6 million aimed at bolstering security for the justices both in their official duties and at home.

As reported by NewsNation, if Congress approves the request, it would allow for the assignment of six additional security agents for each justice. The funding would also facilitate the establishment of a residential security post, which is intended to improve emergency response times.

The U.S. Marshals Service, responsible for the protection of judges, recorded 564 threats in the last fiscal year, noting a significant 57% rise in threats directed at judiciary members.

In a recent incident from May, Barrett received a threat call that was later determined to be a “swatting” attempt—a false report made to provoke a police response typically involving a SWAT team. Additionally, Barrett’s sister faced a bomb threat in Charleston, South Carolina, although no explosives were found afterward.

In 2022, an attempted assassination involving Justice Brett Kavanaugh was thwarted when a California individual was apprehended outside Kavanaugh’s home, armed with a pistol, a knife, zip ties, and burglary tools. This occurred following the leak of a draft opinion that sought to overturn Roe v. Wade, leading to substantial public unrest.

In the climate of increasing hostility, Chief Justice John Roberts expressed concerns about the impact of personal attacks on judges after then-President Donald Trump criticized the Court over certain tariff rulings.

“Personally directed hostility is dangerous and has got to stop,” Roberts stated during a talk at Rice University in Houston, Texas.