By: William D. Slicker
Violence and threats of violence against judges has been increasing. The U.S. Marshals Service has documented nearly 3,200 threats against judges since 2019.[1] As of July 1, there were 370 threats made against federal judges in fiscal year 2026 which ends on September 30.[2]
In a survey taken by the National Judicial College in 2024, over half of the judges responding (222 out of 413 judges) said that the threats to judges had affected their mental health.[3] This is not surprising due to the number of publicized murders and threats.
On July 19, 2020, Judge Esther Salas was celebrating her only son’s 20th birthday. Then a man posing as a delivery driver rang the doorbell. When the door was opened, Roy Hollander shot and killed her son and wounded her husband.[4]
On June 3, 2022, Douglas Uhde entered the home of retired Wisconsin Judge John Roemer, zip-tied him to a chair, and shot him dead.[5]
On October 19, 2023, Pedro Argote shot and killed Maryland Judge Andrew Wilkinson in the driveway of his home hours after the judge ruled against him in a child custody and divorce case.[6]
On June 8, 2022, Nicholas Roske was apprehended outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh while armed with a gun and zip ties.[7]
On June 23, 2013, Judge Timothy Corrigan and his wife were sitting in their living room watching “The Closer” on TV when a bullet fired by Aaron Richardson, intended for Corrigan, was deflected when it hit the metal casing around the window and missed Corrigan’s head by 1.6 inches.[8]
In addition to the killings, there are the threats. In November, 2021, Jonathan Williams was arrested in New Jersey for calling a federal judge’s office and threatening to “put a bullet in the judge’s brain”.[9]
In September, 2023, Judge Jennifer Johnson in Dixie County, Florida received a video on TikTok that imitated the video game Grand Theft Auto in which a man follows the judge down the street and then attacks her with a hatchet and then shoots her several times in the head.[10]
And then there is swatting. On 27 May 2026, Supreme Court Justice Amy Barrett was the target of a swatting incident.[11] It was only because she had security guards that the police invasion of her home was stopped.
And then there are the “pizza doxxing” deliveries. Judges nationwide have gotten unsolicited pizza deliveries.[12] This is a way of saying we know where you live. Recently, in neighboring Hillsborough County, Jonathan Miller was sentenced to prison for pizza doxxing two Hillsborough County judges.[13] He ordered $381 worth of pizzas for Judge Jessica Costello and $252 worth of pizza for Judge Frances Perrone.
And then there are cyberattacks. In December, 2023, Florida’s First Circuit received a cyber attack that stole all its data.[14] In 2025, Judge Carroll Kelly presided over a cyberstalking case. The losing litigant warned her “You’re going to see what happens to you now.” Hours later she received 10,000 new emails. By the next morning it had increased ten-fold.[15]
Here in Florida, lawmakers are responding to these murders and threats. The lawmakers have funded a clearing house for threats against judges to coordinate with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Florida is also working on legislation that would prohibit data brokers from disclosing the personal data of “covered persons” which would include judges. The person who shot Judge Corrigan got his home address on People Finder for under $2.00.[16]
A 2024 Judicial Survey among hundreds of state judges found that nearly a third of them reported carrying a gun for protection.[17] Instead of the St. Petersburg Bar Association giving a new judge a plaque, maybe the St. Petersburg Bar Association should give every new judge a Ruger.
[1] Semyon, Cassie, “Justices Kagan, Barrett to testify on Capital Hill Tuesday on need for additional security funding.” Spectrum News 1 (Jul. 13, 2026) https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/politics/2026/07/13/kagan–barrett-to-testify-on-capitol-hill-on-need-for-additional-security-funding
[2] Semyon, ibid.
[3] The National Judicial College, “Over half of judges report threats, environment affecting mental health.” The National Judicial College (June 27, 2024). https://judges.org/news-and-info/over-half-of-judges-report-threats-environment-affecting-mental-health/
[4] Nark, Jason, “After her only child was murdered at her home in an attack aimed at her, Judge Esther Salas advocated successfully for legislation to enhance security for judges nationwide.” Rutgers Foundation (April 7, 2025) https://rutgersfoundation.org/news/hall-distinguished-alumni/groundbreaking-judge-turned-tragedy-change
[5] New York City Bar, “Statement Condemning Assassination of Former Wisconsin Judge John Roemer and Calling for Greater State and Federal Judicial Security.” New York City Bar (June 24, 2022) https://www.nycbar.org/press-releases/statement-condemning-assassination-of-former-wisconsin-judge-john-roemer-and-calling-for-greater-state-and-federal-judicial-security/
[6] Venezky, Emily and Wells, Ciara, “Maryland judge shot and killed at Hagerstown home.” Maryland Matters (Oct. 20, 2023) https://marylandmatters.org/2023/10/20/maryland-judge-shot-and-killed-at-hagerstown-home/
[7] MacFarlane, Scott, “Man Who Tried to Assassinate Kavanaugh in 2022 wanted to kill 3 justices, prosecutors say.” CBS News (Sept. 19, 2025) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nicholas-roske-brett-kavanaugh-sentencing/
[8] U.S. Department of Justice, “Nicholas Roske Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Prison for Attempted Murder of Supreme Court Justice in Maryland” U.S. Department of Justice (Oct. 3, 2025) https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nicholas-roske-sentenced-over-eight-years-prison-attempted-murder-supreme-court-justice
[9] Dienst, Jonathan, “‘NJ Man Repeatedly Threatened to ‘Blow Judge’s Brains Out’: Prosecutors” 4 New York (Nov. 3, 2021) https://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/nj-man-repeatedly-threatened-to-kill-federal-judge-blow-judges-brains-out-prosecutors/3376819/
[10] Norwood, Candace, “Not a way to live’: AI is fueling violent threats against women judges.” The 19th News (Sept. 29, 2025) https://19thnews.org/2025/09/ai-women-judges-threats-deepfakes-doxxing/
[11] Grumbach, Gary and Guilfoil, Kyle, “Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s home targeted in apparent ‘swatting’ incident,” NBC News (May 28, 2026) https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/justice-amy-coney-barrett-home-targeted-apparent-swatting-incident-rcna347406
[12] MacFarlane, Scott and Rosen, Jacob, “Federal judges targeted nationwide by ‘pizza doxxings’” CBS News (May 13, 2025) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pizza-doxxings-federal-judges/
[13] Sullivan, Dan, “After ‘pizza doxing’ Tampa judges, maan gets nearly 2 years in prison.” Tampa Bay Times (May 19, 2026) https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2026/05/19/hillsborough-judge-pizza-doxing-sentencing/
[14] Sullivan, ibid.
[15] Ash, Jim, “Chief Judge John Miller Details the First Circuit’s Massive Cyberattack.” Florida Bar News (Dec. 6, 2023) https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/chief-judge-john-miller-details-the-first-circuits-massive-cyberattack/
[16] Ash, Jim, “Working to address threats against Florida’s judges.” Florida Bar News (June 4, 2026) https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/working-to-address-threats-against-floridas-judges/
[17] Baker, Katie J.M., “State Judges Turn to Guns in New Era of Judicial Threats” New York Times (Apr. 10, 2026) https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/10/us/state-judges-threats.html
