A man from Florida has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for threatening to kill a U.S. Supreme Court justice. Neal Brij Sidhwaney pleaded guilty in December after he left a threatening voicemail in July to the Supreme Court. The indictment revealed that Sidhwaney twice threatened to kill an unnamed justice, later identifying Chief Justice John Roberts as his intended target during a psychological evaluation that was sealed in court records. Sidhwaney admitted to transmitting an interstate threat to kill a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Threats against federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, have been on the rise since 2019. In 2023, federal investigators responded to over 400 threats to federal judges across the country, a significant increase from 2019. This comes after Nicholas John Roske was accused of attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022. Roske was arrested with weapons near Kavanaugh’s home after a draft opinion in the case involving Roe v. Wade was leaked. Roske has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Following the incident involving Roske, Congress passed a law to provide 24-hour security for the families of Supreme Court justices. The justices themselves were also provided with 24-hour protection by the U.S. Marshals Service after the leaked opinion. The increase in threats against federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, has raised concerns about the safety and security of these key members of the judiciary. Efforts are being made to enhance security measures and provide adequate protection for those who serve on the nation’s highest court.
The rise in threats against federal judges underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and security of those who serve on the bench. Threats against judges not only endanger the individual judges themselves, but also disrupt the administration of justice and undermine the rule of law. It is crucial to take threats against federal judges seriously and implement measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The safety and security of federal judges and Supreme Court justices must be a top priority to uphold the integrity of the judicial system.
Incidents like the one involving the threat against a Supreme Court justice highlight the need for vigilance and proactive measures to protect those in positions of authority within the judiciary. The threat made by Sidhwaney is a stark reminder of the potential dangers faced by federal judges and Supreme Court justices in carrying out their duties. By addressing these threats and enforcing consequences for those who make them, steps can be taken to deter such behavior and ensure the safety of those who serve in the judiciary. It is essential for law enforcement agencies and government authorities to remain vigilant and responsive to threats against federal judges in order to uphold the principles of justice and protect the rule of law.
