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Two US Supreme Court justices made a rare appearance before Congress to seek increased security funding, citing a sharp rise in threats against members of the judiciary. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan urged lawmakers to approve a nearly 10% increase in the court's budget, with officials projecting a 38% rise in threats this year after a 25% increase in 2025. Barrett disclosed that she had been issued a bulletproof vest following heightened security concerns and was recently targeted in a "swatting" incident. The hearing also touched on judicial ethics, with Kagan supporting an independent enforcement mechanism for the court's code of conduct, while Barrett expressed reservations about such a proposal.
US Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan appeared before a House of Representatives appropriations subcommittee in the past week to request additional security funding, warning lawmakers that threats against members of the judiciary have increased significantly in recent years. Their testimony marked the first appearance by sitting Supreme Court justices before Congress since 2019, excluding Senate confirmation hearings for judicial nominees.
The two justices defended the Supreme Court's budget request of nearly USD 230 million for the next fiscal year, representing an increase of about 10% over the current allocation. During the hearing, Kagan said the Supreme Court Police expected threats against the court to rise by 38% this year, following a 25% increase recorded in the previous year.
Barrett provided personal accounts of the security challenges faced by judges and their families. She said that after the leak of the draft opinion that preceded the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, her security team had issued her with a bulletproof vest because of escalating threats. She told lawmakers that explaining the need for such protection to her children had been one of the most difficult aspects of her public service.
The justice also disclosed that she had recently been the target of a "swatting" incident, in which emergency responders were dispatched to her home following a false report of gunfire and a domestic disturbance. Barrett said Supreme Court police stationed outside her residence intercepted responding officers before any confrontation occurred, preventing the situation from escalating after one of her teenage sons had opened the front door.
She further noted that several federal judges, including herself, had received anonymous pizza deliveries intended to intimidate members of the judiciary. According to Barrett, such deliveries referenced the son of US District Judge Esther Salas, who was fatally shot in 2020 after an armed assailant targeted the judge's New Jersey residence.
The hearing took place shortly after the Supreme Court concluded its latest nine-month term, during which it delivered several high-profile rulings involving President Donald Trump's administration and broader questions relating to executive authority. The court's 6-3 conservative majority has continued to attract public scrutiny over decisions concerning abortion, presidential powers and other politically sensitive issues.
According to data presented during the hearing, the US Marshals Service recorded threats against nearly 400 federal judges during the previous year, while 276 judges had already been targeted by 1 July this year. Chief Justice John Roberts had previously warned that personal attacks on judges posed a serious risk to judicial independence and public confidence in the legal system.
Lawmakers also questioned the justices on judicial ethics following the Supreme Court's adoption of its first formal code of conduct in 2023. Kagan reiterated her support for establishing an independent panel to oversee compliance with the code, arguing that external oversight could strengthen public trust in the institution. Barrett, however, said she remained unconvinced that such a mechanism was necessary, pointing to practical questions surrounding the appointment and authority of any enforcement body.
The issue of judicial ethics has remained under scrutiny following disclosures involving Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Both have defended their actions, maintaining that they complied with applicable disclosure requirements and ethical standards.
Source - Reuters
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