Key figures in the U.S. federal judiciary have expressed concern over a growing number of threats against judges and the rising calls for impeachment related to their rulings, particularly as some Republican lawmakers push to remove jurists who have blocked U.S. President Donald Trump‘s policies.
U.S. Circuit Judge Richard Sullivan, chair of the U.S. Judicial Conference’s security committee, addressed the situation at a recent meeting in Washington.
He emphasized the judiciary’s commitment to bolstering security for judges both at work and at home, labeling it a “top priority.”
Judge Sullivan stressed the need for public officials to be cautious with their statements about the judiciary, citing concerns that some rhetoric could provoke harmful actions by individuals.
Though he noted that there was no definitive data indicating an increase in threats against judges this year, he underscored the significance of maintaining a responsible discourse about the justice system.
Recent calls for the impeachment of judges who have ruled against Trump administration policies have raised alarms. High-profile figures, including billionaire Elon Musk and Trump administration supporters, have publicly criticized judges and even called for their impeachment. The increased threat levels have led U.S. marshals to heighten security for specific judges involved in cases concerning Trump’s initiatives.
Chief Justice John Roberts had previously voiced similar concerns in his year-end report, revealing that over the past five years, the U.S. Marshals Service had investigated more than 1,000 serious threats against federal judges.
Additionally, Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced resolutions aimed at impeaching three judges who blocked key Trump policies.
The impeachment process requires the House to pass articles of impeachment by a simple majority vote, followed by a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate for conviction. Although Republicans control both chambers, they lack the necessary two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Sullivan emphasized that impeachment should not be used as a shortcut to bypass the appeals process. He warned that such actions would erode judicial independence, a sentiment echoed by U.S. Circuit Judge Jeffrey Sutton, who also cautioned against diluting the standards for impeachment, noting that this would pose risks for all branches of government.
In the history of the U.S., only 15 federal judges have been impeached, and just eight of them have been convicted by the Senate, with the most recent conviction occurring in 2010. According to the U.S. Constitution, the grounds for impeachment include treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.