U.S. Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified before Congress on Tuesday, seeking a roughly 10% annual budget increase to bolster security amid rising threats against judges.
Rising Threats Against Federal Judges
According to data from the U.S. Marshals Service, nearly 400 judges faced threats last year and 276 have been targeted this year as of July 1. The court has asked for more than $14 million to expand the Supreme Court Police Department’s protective activities for justices’ residences and families.
The justices’ appearances before Congress are the first by sitting justices since 2019, excluding Senate confirmation hearings for nominees. In that time, the court’s 6-3 conservative majority has reshaped U.S. law with landmark rulings on abortion, presidential power, and other contentious issues.
Chief Justice John Roberts has spoken out against hostility directed at judges, saying it is ‘dangerous and it’s got to stop.’ The court has faced ethics scrutiny and a decline in public approval, with some justices facing questions over their conduct.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
