Press Release

Across the nation, judges have faced increasing pressure and personal attacks recently. These recent challenges to American courts expose a growing threat to our democratic system – the critical institutions tasked with upholding our Constitution are the ones increasingly at risk.

While citizens have every right to disagree with court decisions, the escalation of personal threats and intimidation crosses a dangerous line. History has shown that when the judiciary is weakened, individual rights suffer. These tactics don’t strengthen us – they threaten to unravel the constitutional fabric that protects us.

According to data from the U.S. Marshals Service obtained by Bloomberg Law in 2023, threats against federal judges have surged in recent years, with substantiated incidents rising from 178 in 2019 to 311 in 2022. This chilling trend extends beyond any single case or motion: when judges are targeted for doing their jobs, it sends a direct message that the courts must follow public opinion rather than uphold the law. The Pew Research Center reports that confidence in courts has declined significantly in countries around the globe, with many Americans believing that judicial decisions are swayed by political pressure rather than legal principles. Accurate or not, this wavering confidence weakens the public’s willingness to accept court rulings as fair and impartial.

Our Constitution established the Third Pillar as an independent branch specifically so decisions could be based on the law rather than political pressure or concerns about personal safety. Our system also provides the opportunity to disagree with a court’s ruling by appealing through legal channels. Yet, we are seeing growing efforts to undermine judicial rulings through legislative action and public pressure campaigns. The stakes extend far beyond any individual case. Without independent courts, there would be no reliable check on government overreach, no impartial structure for resolving disputes, and no guaranteed protection of the rights of every American.

This moment demands a response from all who value the fundamental freedoms at the heart of our democracy. Legal professionals, bar associations, and civic organizations must help the public understand why judicial independence matters and why respecting court decisions, even those we disagree with, is crucial to maintaining our civil justice system. Efforts such as the Bolch Judicial Institute’s Defending the Judiciary initiative at Duke Law School emphasize the urgent need to protect the court’s integrity. Led by former U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm, the Institute is calling on organizations to join their work to counter these dangerous and unwarranted attacks.

Our courts must remain concrete, unwavering institutions in service to all Americans. We must tirelessly defend judges as they navigate these challenges, ensuring that cases can be resolved fairly and without fear of recrimination. The rule of law stands as the bedrock of our democracy. Now, more than ever, we must safeguard these principles and those who uphold them or risk the American institution that has always stood for justice for all.

Lori Andrus is the current President of the American Association for Justice and co-founding partner of Andrus Anderson LLP, located in San Francisco, California.

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The American Association for Justice works to safeguard rights, promote fairness, and strengthen access to civil justice—even when it means taking on the most powerful corporations.

AAJ’s vision is justice for all.