US federal judges report rising threats during Trump presidency — ABC News Australia
Federal judges in the United States report an increase in threats and harassment amid the consideration of lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s second administration. As ABC News Australia reports, the Brennan Center for Justice surveyed 35 sitting and retired judges appointed by presidents from both parties. All respondents said that the current level of danger is more serious than in the past.
One federal judge who heard a case related to the Trump administration’s immigration measures described receiving more than 700 threatening phone calls. After the floor plan of the judge’s home was circulated online, the family set up a safe room and practised what to do in case an intruder entered. According to the judge, the child was not allowed to play outside for some time.
US Marshals Service data
The US Marshals Service, which is responsible for the security of federal judges, recorded a 57% increase in the number of incidents causing significant concern in fiscal year 2025. The agency forecasts a further increase in this figure in fiscal year 2026, but did not provide absolute numbers.
Separately, the number of threats recorded as part of protective investigations increased by 10% in fiscal year 2025. Almost all 17 sitting judges who took part in the survey expressed concern about the safety of their family members.
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Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida said: “We sign up for this. We are public servants. But our children do not sign up for this.”
Pressure and intimidation
Judges also described the practice of sending unsolicited pizzas to home addresses, known as pizza doxxing. Such deliveries are meant to demonstrate that a judge’s address is known to those harassing them. Orders are often placed in the name of Daniel Anderl, the son of New Jersey District Judge Esther Salas. In 2020, he was shot dead by an attacker who was attempting to kill his mother.
Most sitting judges said that the heightened risk was primarily linked to cases involving the Trump administration because of significant public attention and political polarization. Some respondents said they had felt pressure to make decisions in a particular direction, although almost all stressed that threats had not influenced their rulings. At the same time, some judges fear that, because of the risks, other legal professionals may refuse to work in the judicial system in the future.
