Rep. Mark Alford on Threats to Judges' Safety and Judiciary Funding

Unprecedented Threats to Judges

• ⚖️ Judges are facing unprecedented threats to their personal safety due to the doxxing of private information on social media.
• 📱 Online mobs are sharing personal identifiable information, including home addresses, and encouraging violence against judges.

Judiciary's Threat Management Efforts

• 🛡️ The judiciary's threat management branch has been active in removing personal identification information from the public domain, pursuant to the Daniel Andrew bill.
• 💻 Over 80% of judges are encouraged to sign up for services that scrub the internet for personal identification information.
• 🤝 Active coordination exists with the United States Marshall Service to surge resources to areas anticipating problems.

Strengthening Judicial Security

• 🏠 Efforts include encouraging and financially supporting judges in obtaining home intrusion detection systems.
• 🏛️ Funding is requested for courthouse hardening projects to provide security to courthouses.
• 🚨 The judiciary has moved to strengthen security following potentially large decisions that could sway action by individuals.

Funding Needs for Court Security

• 💰 A request of $892 million is made for the court security account to fund security officers, vulnerability management, and updating security equipment.
• ⚠️ The court security account has been frozen for two years, forcing funds intended for equipment updates to be used for personnel and programs.
• 📈 Failure to secure this funding will lead to obsolete equipment and increased security risks at courthouses nationwide.