U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett about judicial security during a rare Congressional appearance on July 14. This marked the first time since 2019 that Supreme Court justices have appeared before Congress and the first time before the Senate since 2011.
Durbin addressed concerns about rhetoric targeting judges, saying, “Tomorrow we’re considering Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination, who has said of the courts that they are full of ‘rogue activist judges,’ repeatedly claiming the administration is ‘at war’ with the federal judiciary. That kind of rhetoric, I think, is unacceptable on either side of the table, Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. It just inflames people and has them thinking in terms of violence that may reach physical violence if we’re not careful. So, I want to add to the chorus that violence is unacceptable.”
Referencing a past incident involving Northern District of Illinois Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow—whose mother and husband were killed—Durbin asked whether lower federal courts face delays from the General Services Administration (GSA) regarding security measures. Barrett replied: “Yes, and I think that’s part of their budget request… I served with Judge Lefkow when I was on the Seventh Circuit, and I think precisely because of those sorts of things, yes, it is my understanding that the lower federal courts are also in great need of security funding and have been pushing for that in their courthouses and through GSA as well.” Kagan added: “We’re in a bit of a different position because we don’t use GSA. We’re under the Capitol Architect and have done very well with the Architect of the Capitol; that office has always been very attentive to our needs. But lower federal courts are reliant on GSA, and I know have some significant concerns.”
Reports indicate an increase in threats against federal judges in recent years. One report identified more than 600 posts on social media targeting family members of judges who ruled against former President Trump’s administration since February 2025; these posts were viewed over 200 million times. Another report described anonymous deliveries sent to judges’ homes using personal details intended to intimidate them.
The spike in threats coincides with increasingly hostile language by former President Trump and his allies toward members of the judiciary. Durbin has called for investigations by both the Justice Department and FBI into these ongoing threats.
When Durbin chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee previously, he saw passage into law for The Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act as part of national defense legislation—providing more intelligence analysts for U.S. Marshals Service protection efforts while allowing judges greater privacy regarding personal information online.
The Senate Judiciary Committee plays a significant role in shaping constitutional protections nationwide through its legislative work; it reviews laws related to civil rights enforcement while overseeing law enforcement agencies at large, according to its official website.