Early Tuesday morning, U.S. Marshals shot a would-be carjacker outside of Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s house after he pointed a gun at one of the deputies assigned to protect her. Although it appears Justice Sotomayor was never in danger, we are disturbed by recent threats of violence against Justices.

Justice Kavanaugh was the subject of an assassination attempt just two years ago. Local prosecutors sat by passively as protestors who appeared to be attempting to influence a judicial opinion improperly harassed several Justices and their families at home after the Dobbs opinion leak.  And Federal District Judge Esther Salas was attacked at home and her son was tragically killed in 2020.

The personal safety and security of the Justices of the Supreme Court, and members of the judicial system as a whole, is of paramount importance for the rule of law in the United States. Congress needs to ensure that they are protected.