US Supreme Court independence questioned as threats to judges rise

Law professor and former Department of Justice official Kim Wehle warned that an escalation in threats directed at judges is undermining the United States’ rule of law. Speaking at a congressional briefing on judicial independence on Tuesday, Wehle said that the frequency and intensity of harassment—ranging from online vitriol to direct physical threats—have risen sharply in recent years, creating a climate that discourages impartial adjudication and jeopardizes public confidence in the courts.

Wehle cited data from the Federal Judicial Center indicating a 40 percent increase in reported threats against federal judges since 2018, as well as high‑profile incidents in which judges have faced doxxing, death threats, and attempts to influence rulings through partisan pressure. She emphasized that such intimidation not only endangers individual jurists but also erodes the institutional safeguards that separate the judiciary from political interference. Experts and advocacy groups have called for stronger protective measures and clearer enforcement mechanisms to preserve judicial independence and maintain the integrity of the legal system.