Justices Request Enhanced Security Funding
Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett appeared before the House Appropriations Committee on [date] to discuss the Court's budget request, emphasizing the need for increased security for the judiciary amid a rise in threats. Each justice is currently assigned between four and eight members of a security detail, with numbers rising during specific threats, Barrett confirmed.
Congressional Support and Concerns
Democrat Steny Hoyer, ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee, welcomed the justices and noted that such appearances were once more common; the last time a sitting justice testified before Congress was in 2019. Hoyer stated, 'With a deeply divided country and increasingly violent rhetoric being directed at judges, Congress must provide sufficient funding to ensure the safety of all judicial personnel.' He also emphasized the need to safeguard judicial independence and fund public defenders.
Transparency and Ethics Scrutiny
Rosa DeLauro, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, called for greater transparency through 'increased financial disclosure requirements and a binding, enforceable code of ethics.' This follows scrutiny of Justice Clarence Thomas for accepting luxury travel and gifts from billionaire donor Harlan Crow without disclosure. DeLauro described the Court's 2023 voluntary code of conduct as 'woefully insufficient.'
Personal Security Incidents
Barrett recounted how her security increased after the Dobbs decision leak in 2022, including being issued a bulletproof vest, which she had to explain to her 12-year-old son. She also described a recent swatting incident where a false report of gunshots led to a police response at her home, with Supreme Court police preventing entry. Kagan and Barrett said they still do not know who leaked the Dobbs decision, with Kagan noting that leaks undermine confidential deliberations essential to the Court's work.
