US judges reveal panic buttons, private security in chilling new reports about threats

Two new reports reveal that federal judges across the United States have taken drastic measures to protect themselves from an alarming surge in threats and harassment. Federal judges have changed their commuting routes, hired private security, and fortified their homes with panic buttons in response to a 57% increase in "security incidents of significant concern" in the year ending September 2025, according to a March report by the agency that manages the U.S. court system.

The reports emphasize the heightened stress and anxiety judges face, with some considering alternative rulings to avoid provoking violent reactions that could endanger their families. The studies, conducted by legal scholars from New York University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Brennan Center for Justice, present a dire picture of a judicial branch under extreme pressure.

Amrit Singh, lead author of one of the studies, described the current environment as "a different era" with unprecedented levels of threats. One judge recounted feeling terror and agonizing for an hour before making a ruling that was required by law. Another judge reported over 700 threatening phone calls after a Trump administration immigration case.

The reports call for adequate funding for judicial security, efforts to safeguard judges' personal information, and increased prosecutions of individuals making threats. The chilling accounts of these judges underline the precarious state of the judicial system in the face of mounting threats.