WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2022 – The American Bar Association applauds Congress for passing legislation that includes important provisions to enhance the security of federal judges. The new law, which is part of the National Defense Authorization Act, will increase funding for federal judicial security and limit the disclosure of those judges’ personal information. This will help protect the security of judges and their families.
Our American democracy rests on the rule of law. Judges must be free to make decisions based on the facts and the law, without fear of reprisal or physical harm.
Unfortunately, threats against judges have skyrocketed in recent years. In 2020, an assailant killed a federal judge’s son and wounded her husband in the judge’s home in New Jersey. This year, an attacker murdered a retired Wisconsin state judge in the judge’s home.
We are heartened that Congress has taken action to improve federal judicial security. It is imperative that we protect our judges, their families and others who work at and visit courthouses across the country.
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.