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Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett told lawmakers Tuesday that threats against federal judges remain high as she and Justice Elena Kagan appeared before a House appropriations subcommittee to discuss the Supreme Court’s fiscal 2027 budget request.
The Supreme Court is seeking $228.4 million for fiscal year 2027, nearly a 10 percent increase from the $207.8 million appropriated for 2026. Court officials said much of the additional funding would support enhanced security and cybersecurity.
Barrett said the threat environment has become increasingly dangerous and has personally affected her family.
“The threat level against federal judges is really high,” Barrett told lawmakers.
According to CNBC, Barrett recalled being issued a bulletproof vest in 2022 after threats escalated following the leak of a draft opinion that was later issued as the court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
“I carried it into my house,” Barrett said, explaining that her 12-year-old son immediately asked what the vest was and why she had it.
“I didn’t know how to respond because maybe I lack imagination, but I didn’t expect that performing this service was going to put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was and why I had to wear one,” she said.
Barrett also described a recent “swatting” incident at her home in which local law enforcement responded to a false report of gunfire.
“I was very, very grateful that I had Supreme Court Police outside my home because they were able to stop and meet with and explain to the county police that it had been a false alarm,” she said.
She added that the justices have also received “threatening anonymous deliveries designed to intimidate and harass us.”
Kagan said threats against the judiciary continue to increase.
“The Supreme Court Police expect a smaller but still very substantial 38% annual increase in threats this year, which follows a 25% increase last year,” she said.
“For some of us, those threats have come very close, and all of us live with the knowledge that they may again materialize,” Kagan added.
