Staying Safe: Five Steps Judges Can Take Now

Judges have always been subject to scrutiny, second-guessing, and threats. But as Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. noted in his 2024 year-end report, the U.S. Marshals Service has reported that “the volume of hostile threats and communications directed at judges has more than tripled over the past decade.” Marshals have investigated more than 1,000 serious, credible threats against judges in the past five years alone — some of those threats, the Chief Justice noted, led to judges wearing bulletproof vests to public events.

As discourse surrounding the judiciary grows increasingly heated — and threats become more widespread and extreme — traditional security resources are struggling to keep pace. In response, many judges are eager to take greater responsibility for protecting themselves and their families.

Here are five actions judges can take right now to increase their personal security.

1. Be Aware of the Danger.

Judges know of the increased threats against them and that the resources provided by legislatures and law enforcement are often insufficient. But while all judges are facing this climate of increased threats and hostility, some judges are at higher risk than others.

Judges handling high-profile cases are more likely to be targeted, and, in general, federal judges face greater danger because their cases are often of broader and sometimes even national interest. Their decisions may be widely disseminated by national press and on social media, exposing their names to millions who may disagree with their rulings.

Women judges and minority judges are also targeted at a higher frequency. Research done by my company, Ironwall, has found that female judges of color typically face 40 percent more threats than do white male judges.

2. Protect Online Privacy.

Once someone with nefarious intent has a judge’s name, they will also likely have the judge’s home address — a simple Google search will often reveal personally identifiable information (PII). Enter that address into Google Maps, and an attacker can view the judge’s residence. Using Google Maps’ aerial view, they can even scope out hiding places and points of entry. A couple more clicks may show where the judge’s children or grandchildren go to school. Make no mistake: Potential attackers know how to use the internet to find what they want.

To combat such challenges, some courts are providing online privacy services for judges, but the level and quality of such services varies. Federal judges receive some online privacy protection, which leads many to believe their PII has been fully deleted from the internet. In recent months, however, hundreds of federal judges have received unsolicited pizza deliveries to their homes, with some orders including the name of the murdered son of a federal judge. This tactic is a clear and despicable intimidation attempt that should not happen to someone who has adequate online PII protection.

Some judges are choosing to purchase their own online security plans. If you are doing so, make sure the security provider you select provides comprehensive online privacy services that include regular internet scanning to remove data that pops up over time. If you can, ask for references from current customers to help vet the quality of the service.

3. Check Home Security.

Alarms and home security systems provide an extra layer of protection that could discourage or repel a potential attacker. But again, don’t just “check the box” by installing a system and assuming the problem is solved. Test the system, and make sure your family is trained on how to use it. Also, test the response time when an alarm is activated. If help arrives 20 minutes later, how much protection is really being provided?

Many federal and state programs will pay for part or all the cost of a judge’s home security system. Seek guidance from your court, the U.S. Marshals Service, and private vendors to evaluate, select, and use the system that best fits your needs as a judge — needs that differ significantly from those of typical consumers.

4. Advocate for Judicial Protection Laws.

Many states have passed consumer data protection laws that give residents more control over their PII, and some have passed — or are considering — data privacy laws specifically designed to protect judges, their families, and court staff. If such a bill is under consideration in your state, contact your legislators to support it. If not, contact them to request consideration of a judicial security bill and point them to examples of states that have enacted laws, such as Maryland, Missouri, and Oklahoma. A database of state laws relating to judicial security is available at www.ncsc.org/gaveltogavel.

Even where such laws exist, proactive enforcement can be spotty, which is why private-sector organizations have assumed a greater role in protecting judges. Laws that facilitate private-sector partnerships with local law enforcement agencies have proven highly effective in removing PII and implementing effective security plans.

5. Spread the Word.

In these contentious, partisan times, judges and lawyers must engage actively with the public to help them understand that judges are doing the job required of them by our Constitution and our system of checks and balances.

Individuals and groups who are hostile to judicial authority have become adept at promoting and propagandizing their grievances. The legal community must combat those messages in the public sphere, so all citizens can understand the vital role our courts play in protecting the rule of law and all our freedoms.

RON ZAYAS is CEO of Ironwall, a security company that provides digital security services to individuals, businesses, and government entities. He is a member of the Bolch Judicial Institute’s Leadership Council and has provided guidance on security issues for the Institute’s Defending the Judiciary initiative.