Judges Grapple With When to Speak Publicly Amid Rising Threats

Federal judges are wrestling with how to address an uptick in personal threats against them while navigating limits on what they can say publicly.

Current and former judges in interviews described increased conversations within the judiciary about what the role of judges can and should be when addressing threats and high-profile acts of violence toward members of the bench.

Chief Judge James Boasberg of the federal trial court in Washington said that judges “are certainly aware of the increase in threats” and “are talking both about the threats themselves and the best way for us to respond publicly or otherwise.” ...