# What kind of security do Supreme Court Justices receive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364 "2018-10-03T12:54:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/1 "2018-10-03T12:54:07Z")
Supreme Court Justices wield enormous power, and often make very controversial decisions. I’d be shocked if they didn’t receive death threats. Do they have any kind of security detail protecting them? What about other Federal Judges in lower courts? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/2 "2018-10-03T13:00:19Z")
Apparently not much security for the justices. Breyer was mugged in 2004, then robbed on a Caribbean vacation in 2012, then had his house broken into around the same time. > **[U.S. Supreme Court Justice Breyer robbed again](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-burglary/supreme-court-justice-breyer-robbed-again-idUSBRE84G1CB20120517)** > > U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who was robbed in February at his Caribbean vacation home by a man armed with a machete, recently was the victim of a burglary at his residence in Washington, a court spokeswoman said on Thursday. > **[Justice Assaulted During Run](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2004/05/02/AR2005033104729.html)** > > Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter was assaulted and slightly injured Friday night while jogging alone in Southwest Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/3 "2018-10-03T14:09:51Z")
The US Marshall service handles security for the court and the justices. It’s up to the individual justices to ask for additional protection. > **[Supreme Court Justices Make Their Own Security Choices, Documents Reveal -...](https://rollcall.com/2018/03/14/supreme-court-justices-make-their-own-security-choices-documents-reveal/)** > > Updated 03/14/18 at 11:06 a.m. | Supreme Court justices only get security protection during domestic trips outside the Washington metropolitan area when they request it, according to a U.S. Marshals Service policy unveiled Wednesday by a court... ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/4 "2018-10-03T15:37:12Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Apparently not much security for the justices. Breyer was mugged in 2004, then robbed on a Caribbean vacation in 2012, then had his house broken into around the same time. They just walk around unescorted, like ordinary folk? That seems so weird to me. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/5 "2018-10-03T15:50:42Z")
Is there any history of attempted assassination of SCOTUS justices? ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/6 "2018-10-03T15:52:06Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > They just walk around unescorted, like ordinary folk? That seems so weird to me. That’s the same as [rank and file members of Congress](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/here-s-how-congress-protected-n772296). Unless there’s evidence of a specific threat only leadership positions get security details. The shooting at the Republican baseball team practice last year only [had security present](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Congressional_baseball_shooting)because of Rep Scalise’s leadership position as the Majority Whip. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/7 "2018-10-03T15:59:44Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The US Marshall service handles security for the court and the justices. It’s up to the individual justices to ask for additional protection. My understanding is that it is, in fact, the Supreme Court Police who are responsible for protecting the Supreme Court building, the justices, any staff, and “official guests”. See 40 USC 6121. The Supreme Court police is under the jurisdiction of the Marshal of the Supreme Court, who is an employee of the Supreme Court (or somehow an Article III employee). The USMS (which is a component of DOJ and the Executive Branch) is generally responsible for protection at other courthouses and of other federal judges. To answer the OP’s question anecdotally, I attended a talk by Justice Scalia about 15 years ago and he arrived in an OGV and was attended by a small protective detail; although I’m not sure from what agency. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/8 "2018-10-03T16:37:38Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Is there any history of attempted assassination of SCOTUS justices? Only [Stephen Johnson Field](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Johnson_Field#U.S._Supreme_Court_justice), who was challenged to a duel by one judge and then 30 years later, attacked by another. Because of his series of disagreements with all sorts of political enemies, Field was being guarded by a U.S. Marshall, who killed Field’s attacker. Wikipedia lists [four federal judges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_federal_judges_killed_in_office)over the last 40 years who were assassinated, but none of them SCOTUS. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/9 "2018-10-03T17:24:03Z")
> [@Falchion](#): > > My understanding is that it is, in fact, the Supreme Court Police who are responsible for protecting the Supreme Court building, the justices, any staff, and “official guests”. See 40 USC 6121. The Supreme Court police is under the jurisdiction of the Marshal of the Supreme Court, who is an employee of the Supreme Court (or somehow an Article III employee). The USMS (which is a component of DOJ and the Executive Branch) is generally responsible for protection at other courthouses and of other federal judges. > To answer the OP’s question anecdotally, I attended a talk by Justice Scalia about 15 years ago and he arrived in an OGV and was attended by a small protective detail; although I’m not sure from what agency. You are correct but their jurisdiction is only within Washington. The Marshals would handle any security for travels outside of DC. But it’s not automatic it must be asked for. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/10 "2018-10-03T19:22:50Z")
It is entirely possible Judge Kavanaugh was packing heat throughought his testimony. Federal judges can, and you can’t get more Federal Judge-y than SCOTUS Judge, but I don’t know about that. I presume they could request a carry permit like any other citizen, but perhaps denied immediate license because maybe unlike Federal Judges they have multiple legal armed protection services. See [Are most Judges armed? - In My Humble Opinion (IMHO) - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=388324) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/11 "2018-10-03T21:11:53Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > They just walk around unescorted, like ordinary folk? That seems so weird to me. Being British, I would have that reaction if they were indeed guarded. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/12 "2018-10-04T00:06:54Z")
I’m also surprised, because not only are they very important, but the method of their selection provides a political incentive to assassination. Kill the President, and he’ll just be replaced by the Vice President, who presumably has similar policies, but kill a Justice, and he’ll be replaced by someone nominated by the President, who might have very different views. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/13 "2018-10-04T00:09:07Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Wikipedia lists [four federal judges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_federal_judges_killed_in_office)over the last 40 years who were assassinated, but none of them SCOTUS. Perhaps most well-known – Woody Harrelson’s father murdered a federal judge. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/14 "2018-10-04T05:42:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m also surprised, because not only are they very important, but the method of their selection provides a political incentive to assassination. Kill the President, and he’ll just be replaced by the Vice President, who presumably has similar policies, but kill a Justice, and he’ll be replaced by someone nominated by the President, who might have very different views. Most people who are willing to kill for political reasons want high-profile targets. And a President is way more high-profile that some random Justice that most people can’t even name. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/15 "2018-10-04T11:11:20Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Most people who are willing to kill for political reasons want high-profile targets. And a President is way more high-profile that some random Justice that most people can’t even name. You may be right about the psychological motivations of potential assassins. Could it simply be that we don’t see Justices on the news nearly as much as we see Presidents? They don’t allow cameras in the Supreme Court. Somehow this lets them fly under the radar? ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/16 "2018-10-06T05:15:20Z")
From my personal contacts: Treated a Justice in the ER-no security Saw Kennedy at brunch in a semipublic restaurant (private club)-no security Saw Breyer at religious services-no security Had talk by RBG at religious service-5 security personnel, looked like secret service-one watching her the whole time, the others fanned out to the four corners of the room and watched all the entrances It’s pretty clear who the most important one is. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/17 "2018-10-06T05:18:41Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Wikipedia lists [four federal judges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_federal_judges_killed_in_office)over the last 40 years who were assassinated, but none of them SCOTUS. And one of them was just an unfortunate bystander who was probably completely unknown to the killer. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/18 "2018-10-13T00:57:07Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Is there any history of attempted assassination of SCOTUS justices? I’m surprised some anti-abortion activists haven’t offed a few liberal judges when the GOP control the senate and presidency so some anti abortion justices can be appointed. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/19 "2018-10-13T01:57:46Z")
That’s hardly necessary. Literally dozens of federal judges have been nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Republicans in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364/20 "2018-10-13T05:40:36Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > From my personal contacts: > Treated a Justice in the ER-no security > Saw Kennedy at brunch in a semipublic restaurant (private club)-no security > Saw Breyer at religious services-no security > Had talk by RBG at religious service-5 security personnel, looked like secret service-one watching her the whole time, the others fanned out to the four corners of the room and watched all the entrances > > It’s pretty clear who the most important one is. Not necessarily. When someone is speaking at a public event, that’s been advertised, that’s a more likely target than when they’re just quietly going about their business. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-security-do-supreme-court-justices-receive/822364.md?page=2)