In May, police received a false report of gunshots at Barrett’s suburban home. One of her sisters was the target of a false bomb threat last year, and the judge was even forced to wear a bulletproof vest.
Supreme Court justice reports huge profits from book sales in 2025
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett made about $850,000 last year for her books. This puts her on the bench along with four other billionaire authors.
WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett said the growing threats against her court are “requiring me and my children to think and see things that children don’t have to see and think about.”
“I never expected that doing this service would put me in the position of explaining to children what a bulletproof vest is and why they must wear one,” Barrett told a congressional committee reviewing the court’s request for additional funding to address security concerns.
Threats against Supreme Court justices are expected to increase by 38% this year, Justice Elena Kagan said in an unusual July 14 testimony before the justices.
“For some of us, those threats are very close, and we all live with the knowledge that they could materialize again,” Kagan said.
The court is seeking more funding to hire more police officers to protect judges and their families, including their homes.
After Justice Brett Kavanaugh was the target of an assassination attempt in 2022, judges were placed under 24-hour security at their homes.
The court also wants to build a facility near the Supreme Court where visitors will be screened before entering the building.
And the court is asking for additional funding to strengthen cybersecurity.
Kagan said threats are expected to increase by 38% this year, following a 25% increase last year.
Appreciation for increased security at home: “That was a huge thing for us.”
In May, police received a false report of gunshots at Barrett’s suburban Virginia home, an attempt at “swatting,” the latest in a growing number of harassment and intimidation judges have faced in recent years.
She described how the street was filled with police cars when her teenage son opened the door to go out with friends.
“We’re very grateful for the security at the residence,” Barrett said. “That was huge for us.”
One of Barrett’s sisters was the target of a false bomb threat last year.
At times, the threats were serious enough for Barrett to wear a bulletproof vest.
Kagan said that despite the growing threats, justices will continue to do their jobs “to decide cases without fear or favor as they believe is legally correct.”
Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, who chairs the appropriations committee that reviews budget requests, began the hearing by pleading with his colleagues to stay focused on spending.
But the subcommittee’s top Democrat, Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, used his opening remarks to make a political point.
Hoyer said the rule of law depends on a properly funded judiciary, especially now that President Donald Trump is pushing the idea of ”executive supremacy.”
“This administration routinely does things that test the limits of the Constitution,” Hoyer said.
Other Democrats on the committee asked about the court’s ethics rules and the increasing number of decisions being made quickly.
Kagan has expressed support in the past for an ethics rule enforcement mechanism adopted by the court in 2023, but said it was difficult to figure out the best way to do so.
“I think this is still an open question and open to debate,” she said.
Kagan said the justices do a “at least moderate” job explaining the recent increase in the number of appellate cases in which courts issue quick decisions.
