Overview
- 60 Minutes interviewed 26 federal judges — nine Democratic appointees and 17 Republican — and many said they fear mounting risks to judicial independence and safety.
- Judge John Coughenour, who blocked President Trump’s birthright citizenship order, described a hoax report that he killed his wife, a bomb threat the next day, and a congressman’s “wanted” poster targeting judges.
- U.S. Marshals are investigating at least 20 unsolicited pizza deliveries placed in the name of Judge Esther Salas’s late son, a tactic judges say is meant to intimidate families at home.
- Judges say the Marshals Service is overwhelmed as it triages threats, while retired judges formed a bipartisan group to press for stronger protections.
- The White House called it “deeply unserious” to link the administration’s comments to threats and noted the president survived two assassination attempts, as CBS also reported threats from both the right and the left.