University of Wisconsin–Madison

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Federal judges face threats after ruling against the Trump administration

A CBS News 60 Minutes investigation reports that federal judges who rule against President Trump’s agenda are increasingly facing intimidation and violent threats, including “swatting,” bomb threats, doxxing, and other harassment aimed at judges and their families. The segment centers on U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, who said threats spiked after he blocked an executive …

Pro-Trump attorneys push executive order that would give Trump sweeping power over elections: Sources

According to ABC News, a network of pro-Trump attorneys and allies is promoting a 17-page draft executive order that they say could give President Donald Trump sweeping authority over how U.S. elections are run. The draft relies on claims of Chinese interference in the 2020 election—claims that have been repeatedly rejected by U.S. government assessments—and …

Tunisia Court Orders Release of Lawyer Who Criticized President

A court in Tunisia ordered the release of lawyer Ahmed Souab, whose family confirmed he was freed on February 23, 2026. Souab had become known for publicly opposing President Kais Saied and had been imprisoned while serving a five-year sentence. The decision adds to ongoing scrutiny of Tunisia’s use of the justice system amid heightened …

Illinois Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening to Kill Federal Judge

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced that Eric James Rennert (56), of Champaign, Illinois, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for sending multiple threatening emails to a U.S. District Judge in South Florida, including threats aimed at the judge and the judge’s family. Court records say the messages …

Trump’s vicious attacks on judges fuel his bid for unchecked power

Steven Greenhouse argues that Donald Trump’s recent tirade against supreme court justices (after they ruled against his tariff policy) is not an isolated outburst, but part of a broader, intentional campaign by Trump and key aides to vilify the judiciary. The article describes how Trump and figures like Stephen Miller and Pam Bondi portray judges …

Travel ban and judicial control on lawyer Necat Çiçek not lifted

On February 24, 2026, the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court held the eighth hearing in the case against lawyer Necat Çiçek, who is being prosecuted over his legal work and participation in press statements. Çiçek is charged with “membership in an organization,” based primarily on statements from a confessor witness. His defense team argued that …

EU sanctions Russian officials over trials, prisons and crackdowns on dissent

The European Union imposed sanctions on eight Russian individuals over alleged serious human rights violations, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and actions undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia. Those listed include members of Russia’s judiciary (two judges), as well as a prosecutor and investigator linked to what the EU describes …

Condemning lengthy prison sentences imposed on Turkish lawyers for lawful professional and human rights work

A coalition of international legal and human rights organizations, including the New York City Bar Association, issued a joint statement condemning the January 28, 2026 convictions of 10 ÖHD lawyers and 20 TUAD executives/staff by Istanbul’s 14th Heavy Penal Court. The statement argues the charges—primarily “membership of an armed organisation” and, in some instances, “propaganda”—stemmed …

The price of public life: Judges and other officials doxed, swatted, threatened with death

A CBS News investigation documents a sharp rise in threats targeting U.S. public officials—especially judges—amid a political climate where online harassment is increasingly common and sometimes escalates into real-world violence. The story begins with a Minnesota man, Jeffrey Petersen, accused of posting menacing comments under pseudonyms tied to infamous mass shootings and directing threats at …

The price of public life: Judges and other officials doxed, swatted, threatened with death

A February 2026 CBS News investigation reveals a dramatic surge in threats, doxxing, and swatting against U.S. public officials, with 126 people federally charged in 2025 for threatening government figures — more than triple the number from a decade ago. Targets span all three branches of government, including federal judges, members of Congress, law enforcement …