Supreme Court Justices give chilling accounts of threats to their safety

Key Points:

• For the first time in seven years, the Supreme Court sent Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett to Capitol Hill to testify about the court's budget request, which has increased due to rising security threats against justices.
• Justice Kagan highlighted that security enhancements began a decade ago after Justice Scalia's death, noting the justices previously had minimal protection and valued their privacy, but now face expanded police protection and cybersecurity measures.
• Justice Barrett shared personal experiences of threats, including wearing a bullet-proof vest and a recent swatting incident at her home, emphasizing the severe impact on justices and their families.
• The justices discussed concerns about political intimidation, with Kagan distinguishing between fair criticism and intimidation, warning that attempts to intimidate judges cross a critical line.
• Questions also addressed Supreme Court ethics and the controversial "shadow docket," with Kagan supporting an ethics enforcement mechanism and criticizing the emergency docket's increasing use for expedited rulings without full briefing or explanation.