In a recent podcast hosted by the National Constitution Center, Judge J. Michelle Childs of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recounted an unsettling experience involving an unsolicited Domino’s pizza delivery to her home. The incident, which she described as “alarming,” occurred amid increasing verbal attacks on federal judges by former President Donald Trump and his allies. These attacks have sparked concerns about the safety and independence of the judiciary.
Judge Childs, who is the current president of the Federal Judges Association, discussed the situation with other judges soon after the incident. The judges were later informed by the Marshals Service, responsible for protecting federal judges, that other judges had experienced similar occurrences.
Echoing historical parallels, Judge Childs compared the current threats to those faced by judges during the Civil Rights era, a time when judicial decisions often led to extreme acts of intimidation, such as bombings and cross burnings. “It’s very alarming to think that all we’re doing is our job, and we have to fear,” Childs remarked, emphasizing the importance of judicial independence for the safety of the republic (Bloomberg Law).
Alongside Judge Childs, Judge Stephen R. Bough of the Kansas City federal trial court and Judge M. Margaret McKeown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit expressed concerns about the implications of the increasing threats. Judge McKeown labeled the attempt to impeach judges as one of the biggest threats to judicial independence in recent times. These criticisms align with recent political moves, including impeachment resolutions against judges like Chief Judge James “Jeb” Boasberg, who have made rulings contrary to the Trump administration’s actions.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the leading Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, has also highlighted the escalation in threats to judges and their families, attributing them to heightened public criticism from influential figures like Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The amplification of these criticisms has led to intensified security concerns, as discussed in a comprehensive analysis (Bloomberg Law).