Brennan Center Warns Threats to Federal Judges Jumped 57% as Trump Rhetoric Fuels Harassment
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 31
Brennan Center Warns Threats to Federal Judges Jumped 57% as Trump Rhetoric Fuels Harassment
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 31
Summary
35 sitting and retired federal judges told the Brennan Center they face an increasingly hostile climate of threats, harassment and intimidation, prompting the group to call for more security funding and stronger privacy protections.
A March judiciary update said security incidents of “significant concern” rose 57% in fiscal 2025 and are on track to increase again, while judges linked the surge to political polarization, social media and attacks after rulings curbing executive power.
One judge described hundreds of threatening calls after an immigration ruling, built a safe room after a home floor plan was posted online, and alerted a child’s school; another received four months of U.S. Marshals protection after threats spread to relatives.
More than 900 lawsuits have challenged Trump administration actions since January 2025, with judges blocking nearly 300, and the report says hostility from the executive branch has made today’s threat environment feel qualitatively different to many jurists.