Threats, violence against judges on the rise with little protection for those at state level

WASHINGTON (7News) — Threats and violence against judges are on the rise -- and there is no more shocking example than the murder of Maryland judge, Andrew Wilkinson, who was gunned down in his driveway last month.

While there are some protections in place for federal judges, there are virtually no protections in place for judges at the state and municipal levels.

"These threats are real,” said Federal Judge Esther Salas. “These are real, hardcore facts. Painful facts that we all have to deal with."

Facts that Salas is all too familiar with. On July 19, 2020, Salas was at home with her husband, Mark, and son, Daniel. She was cleaning up the basement after celebrating Daniel’s 20th birthday when the doorbell rang.

“The next thing I heard were like these mini bombs,” said Salas.

Salas ran upstairs to a horrific site.

SEE ALSO | Funeral service for slain Washington Co. Judge Andrew Wilkinson announced

“And that was my son lying perpendicular to the front door, holding his chest. And my husband who was shot, but I didn't know it, crawled his way back and we were flanking Dan. And it was at that time, that you know, we said goodbye to our son," she said.

Police said Daniel put himself in between the shooter and his parents and Mark was shot multiple times and critically wounded but survived.

“This was an assassination attempt that was meant for me,” said Salas.

Sadly, it is just one of thousands of acts of violence aimed at judges across America:

• In 2019, the U.S. Marshalls reported 373 threats against America’s 2,700 federal judges
• By 2022, that number more than tripled to 1,362

And it is only at the federal level that these threats are tracked. For the more than 30,000 state and local judges, it's anyone's guess.

Only New Jersey and Oklahoma shield state judge's home addresses online.

Last year in Maryland, the state senate passed a version of a shielding law but it didn't get out of committee in the House.

"Legislatures need to make sure that there are resources available to bolster and make effective judicial security,” said Paul Grimm, Director of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School.

Grimm is a retired Maryland U.S. District Court Judge. He said for the system to function, members of the judiciary must be protected from threats and acts of violence.

“Our system depends on the rule of law,” said Grimm.

And right now, he said we're dangerously close to undermining the very principles that bind our system.

“If the public no longer has respect and faith in the system and the impartiality of the judges, then it's a very short step to say, ‘Those kind of people need to be removed from office and I'm gonna take steps in order to do it,” said Salas. “We see with Judge Wilkison and his death. These threats are real. We must be proactive in what we do as a nation to protect judges and to protect our democracy."

Salas and her husband got two laws passed. One law, at the federal level, increases protections for federal judges and provides financial incentives for states to increase security measures for state and local judges.

The other, "Daniel’s Law" in their home state of New Jersey, among other things prohibits the disclosure of judge's addresses on government agency websites. It also protects the personal information of active or retired judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers, as well as their immediate family.

Salas said she hopes other states follow suit.

“If we don't do something, in an instant, a family's life can be imploded. And we know this not only from my case now, but sadly with Judge Wilkinson's case,” said Salas.

The 7News I-Team contacted Maryland Governor Wes Moore's office about the waffling by the state legislature when it comes to protecting judges and asked what he intended to do, as a practical matter, to better protect judges in Maryland. His office provided the following response:

“Governor Moore believes we should do everything in our power to protect the safety of judges and other dedicated public officials who serve the people of Maryland. We have seen increased threats against public officials over recent years, and Maryland must ensure that those who protect our democracy and uphold our laws are protected from harm. The administration supported SB 221 last session and will support future efforts to allow judges and other officials to shield their personal information from those who have ill intent.”

The Salas’ son, Daniel, intended to follow in his parents’ footsteps. He was pursuing a law degree and was a student at D.C.’s Catholic University.