A new Reuters investigation has uncovered a disturbing wave of threats and harassment directed at U.S. federal judges and their families after rulings against the Trump administration. At least 11 judges and their relatives have been targeted, with incidents ranging from online death threats and doxxing to bomb scares, “swatting” incidents, and anonymous pizza deliveries meant as intimidation tactics.
Judges like James Boasberg and John McConnell faced particularly severe backlash, with family members harassed online and their personal details circulated by far-right influencers, including Elon Musk and Laura Loomer. Posts calling for violence have reached hundreds of millions of views on X and other platforms.
The threats come as Trump and allies intensify public attacks on the judiciary, branding judges as “radical leftists” and pushing impeachment efforts. Legal experts and judges warn that this pattern of politicized intimidation threatens the independence of the judiciary and the safety of those who serve it.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson have both publicly condemned the rising hostility. The judiciary has requested increased security funding, but concern is mounting that the threats will dissuade future judicial appointments and embolden political violence.
As one judge put it: “We signed up for this job—but our families didn’t.”