Fact Check: "Over 400 threats against judges tracked in 2025 alone."
What We Know
The claim that "over 400 threats against judges" were tracked in 2025 appears to be misleading. According to data from the U.S. Marshals Service, there were 277 individual judges threatened during the fiscal year that began on October 1, 2024, and ended in May 2025. This data was shared by Judge Esther Salas and reported by multiple sources, including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The reported increase in threats against judges has been significant, with 162 judges threatened between March 2 and April 14, 2025, and an additional 35 judges threatened from April 15 to May 27, 2025. This data suggests a worrying trend, but it does not support the claim of 400 threats specifically in 2025 alone.
Analysis
The claim of "over 400 threats" seems to conflate data from different time frames. The 400 threats mentioned in some reports refer to the total number of threats against judges since October 2024, not just in 2025. For instance, a report from Bloomberg Law states that there have been more than 400 threats to federal judges since October, which includes threats from previous months and years, not just 2025 (Bloomberg Law).
Furthermore, the U.S. Marshals Service has defined a "threat" as any action or communication that implies an intent to harm or intimidate judges. This broad definition can lead to a high number of reported threats, but it does not necessarily mean that each threat is a distinct incident or that they all occurred within the same calendar year.
The sources reporting on this issue, such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, are reputable and provide context for the data, including the political climate and rhetoric that may contribute to the rise in threats. However, the interpretation of the numbers must be handled carefully to avoid misrepresentation.
Conclusion
The claim that "over 400 threats against judges" were tracked in 2025 alone is False. The data indicates that while there has been a significant increase in threats against judges, the total number of judges threatened in the fiscal year leading up to May 2025 is 277, and the figure of 400 refers to a cumulative total since October 2024. This distinction is crucial for accurately understanding the situation.
Sources
- Marshals' Data Shows Spike in Threats Against Federal Judges
- Spike in threats to judges prompts calls for more security
- The Reagan-Appointed Judge Fast-Tracking Trump to Trial
- Transtorno Explosivo Intermitente (TEI): causas, sinais e tratamento
- Hundreds of US Judges Received Over 400 Threats Since October
