Condemnation of Attacks & Threats Against Our Federal Judges

New York, New York – The New York County Lawyers Association’s (NYCLA) President, Ronald C. Minkoff, today issued this statement condemning attacks and threats against our federal judges.

I am deeply troubled by the continuing attacks on members of our federal judiciary. These include physical and verbal attacks, threats to commit or encourage such attacks, and other forms of harassment. One occurred in May 2026, with a reported swatting attempt at Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s home. Swatting is harassment by falsely reporting a violent emergency to draw a police response—often a heavily armed SWAT team—to a target that endangers both the target and the responders. Indeed, attacks on judges are becoming so widespread that the United States Marshals Service recently cited the need to provide enhanced security to 90 federal judges. See Jordan Fischer, Justice Barrett’s Home Targeted in Swatting Call, Police Say, Bloomberg Law (May 28, 2026). Our legal system cannot uphold the rule of law, or the rights, liberties, and freedoms that the rule of law protects, if judges must live in fear that their judicial actions may result in threats or attacks. We must all stand together to do everything possible to stanch this flood of intimidation of judges.

Few ideas are as fundamental to the rule of law as the principle that judges should not be endangered for acting as judges. Thus, I strongly condemn those who encourage or threaten such violence or engage in such lawless misconduct.

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This statement has been issued by the NYCLA President. It has not been reviewed by NYCLA‘s full Board of Directors and does not necessarily represent its views.