This year, hundreds of federal judges have encountered threats directed at themselves and their families, according to reports from the U.S. Marshals Service. The situation coincides with a series of verbal and written assaults by President Trump and his administration on judges who have made unfavorable rulings against them.
Justice correspondent Ali Rogin engaged in discussions with Judge John McConnell, who has been the target of numerous threats, and Judge Esther Salas to explore this troubling pattern. These conversations provide insight into the current climate of hostility toward the judiciary.
“Judges are facing a challenging environment where threats are becoming alarmingly common,” Judge McConnell stated.
Ali Rogin is a seasoned correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, focusing on the Supreme Court and the broader judicial system in America. Her journalistic efforts have been recognized with a Peabody Award in 2021 due to her involvement in the NewsHour’s series on the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rogin has also earned two Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association. She has been part of several teams nominated for an Emmy, including for her work on significant events such as the fall of ISIS in 2020, the Las Vegas mass shooting in 2017, the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2014, and the 2010 midterm elections.
Jonah Anderson, an associate producer at the PBS NewsHour, contributed to this report.