At an April 10 panel hosted by the National Constitution Center, four federal judges—Michelle Childs (D.C. Circuit), Margaret McKeown (9th Circuit), Beth Bloom (S.D. Fla.), and Stephen Bough (W.D. Mo.)—issued a stark warning: escalating threats, intimidation, and political attacks on judges are eroding public trust and endangering the judiciary’s role in American democracy.
Drawing on historical parallels—from colonial resistance to King George III to Nazi Germany’s subjugation of the courts—the panelists emphasized that judicial independence is a cornerstone of constitutional government. They echoed Chief Justice Roberts’ recent report identifying violence, intimidation, disinformation, and defiance of court orders as growing dangers to the judiciary.
Personal stories underscored the gravity of the threat. Judge Childs described receiving an anonymous pizza delivery—a known intimidation tactic—while Judge McKeown warned that calls to impeach judges over disagreements with rulings undermine public confidence. The murder of Judge Esther Salas’ son, Daniel Anderl, was cited as a tragic reminder of the stakes.
“Judges are fair and neutral arbitrators of the law,” said Judge Childs. “We need to be able to do so without fear or favor.”
The panel concluded with a call to action: protecting judicial independence is not just the responsibility of judges, but of the public and elected officials alike. As Judge Bloom put it, “an attack on judicial independence is an attack on all of us.”