Threats Against Federal Judges Surge Under Trump

Over 100 federal cases filed about violent threats made against public officials, including numerous federal judges

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Since President Donald Trump took office, there has been a significant increase in violent threats made against federal judges, according to a CBS News report. Judges who have ruled against Trump on various issues have become frequent targets, with one Seattle-based judge, John Coughenour, describing receiving numerous threatening communications including fake emergency calls and bomb threats. Experts say the rise in threats is tied to the president and his allies making "hypercritical comments" and referring to judges as "monsters" and accusing them of a "judicial coup." In one case, a Minnesota man allegedly made violent threats against a Supreme Court justice, seven federal judges, and 11 legislators, while using account names referencing mass shooters.

Why it matters

The surge in threats against federal judges is a concerning trend that raises questions about the safety and security of the judicial system. Judges play a critical role in upholding the rule of law, and attacks or threats against them undermine the independence of the judiciary and the public's trust in the legal system.

The details

According to the CBS News report, since President Trump took office, over 100 federal cases have been filed about violent threats made against public officials, including numerous federal judges. One of the targets is U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, a Seattle-based jurist appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, who ruled against Trump's executive order rewriting the 14th Amendment's birthright citizenship protections. Coughenour said he has received hundreds of threatening voicemails and communications, including being "swatted" and having the FBI tell him there was a bomb in his house.

  • Since President Donald Trump took office in 2017, the number of federal cases filed about violent threats against public officials has increased.

The players

John Coughenour

A U.S. District Judge in Seattle, appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, who has ruled against President Trump on various issues and has received numerous threats as a result.

Jeffrey Petersen

A Minnesota man who allegedly made violent threats against a Supreme Court justice, seven federal judges, and 11 legislators, while using account names referencing mass shooters.

Melissa Hortman

The former Minnesota House Speaker who was murdered in her home, with President Trump barely expressing sympathy and even promoting conspiracy theories that the Democratic governor was somehow involved.

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What they’re saying

“If I were in my 30s or 40s with young children at home and thinking about going on the federal bench, one of the factors [to consider] is that we may be exposing ourselves to possible violence.”

— John Coughenour, U.S. District Judge (CBS News)

“Half the people that come before us for trial are going to be unhappy with the result. But it had never before reached the level where the president and the attorney general and the president's staff were making hypercritical comments and calling judges monsters and referring to a judicial coup. Things like that, that's all new. I've never experienced that before.”

— John Coughenour, U.S. District Judge (CBS News)

What’s next

Experts and legal scholars will likely continue to monitor the situation and call for measures to protect the independence and safety of the judiciary, such as increased security funding and stronger laws against threats and intimidation of public officials.

The takeaway

The surge in threats against federal judges under the Trump administration highlights the growing politicization of the judicial system and the erosion of norms around the rule of law. This trend poses a serious threat to the integrity of the justice system and the ability of judges to carry out their duties without fear of retaliation.