Online Threats Against Judges Skyrocket; Ashli Babbitt Estate Receives $5 Million Settlement

Rise in Online Threats Against Judges

• 📈 A new report indicates a dramatic surge in online threats targeting federal and state judges, with violent threats and calls for impeachment increasing by 327% since last May.
• ⚠️ The Chief Justice of the United States highlighted this issue in his year-end report, underscoring the federal judiciary's concern.
• 🚨 Judges, including federal judge Esther Solless who was murdered in 2020, describe this as a systemic issue affecting judges beyond those involved in high-profile cases.
• ⚖️ There are fears that these threats could lead to a chilling effect on the judiciary, potentially impacting how judges handle cases.
• 💬 Threats are categorized into two buckets: impeachment calls, which have a political motive, and threats of violence, which are considered far more corrosive.

Ashli Babbitt Settlement

• 🤝 The Justice Department has agreed to an approximately $5 million settlement with the estate of Ashli Babbitt.
• 💥 Ashli Babbitt was killed by a US Capitol Police lieutenant on January 6th while participating in the events outside the House Speaker's lobby.
• 🔍 An internal review found the shooting to be justified, but the settlement raises concerns among some January 6th police victims.
• 📜 The exact terms of the settlement, including any admission of fault by the government, will be determined when the papers are filed with the federal court.

Amplification and Political Context

• 🗣️ Threats against judges, particularly those handling January 6th cases, have necessitated amplified security measures, such as US Marshals protection.
• 🌐 The current wave of threats is described as political and amplified on social media, differing from isolated threats previously seen from individuals with grievances against judges.
• 📉 The report's findings signify an order of magnitude change in the nature and frequency of threats, moving beyond the typical threats judges might receive from criminals.