Where Is the Rule of Law To Protect Supreme Court Justices?

Jun 22, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court was illegally leaked  regarding the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization abortion case, pro-abortion activists started unleashing threats and acts of violence against the Supreme Court Justices while the Biden administration appears to ignore the rule of law.
 
Attorney General Merrick Garland has continued to ignore the federal statute despite protests and threats against a judge’s residence. The law, 18 U.S.C. § 1507, enacted by Congress in 1950, states: “Whoever, with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing any judge, juror, witness, or court officer, in the discharge of his duty, pickets or parades in or near a building housing a court of the United States, or in or near a building or residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, or court officer, or with such intent uses any sound-truck or similar device or resorts to any other demonstration in or near any such building or residence, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”
 
In March 2020, after the Justices heard oral argument in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, a case about a Louisiana abortion law, Senator Chuck Schumer made a speech outside the Supreme Court warning Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch that they could face dire consequences for their “awful decisions” regarding abortion.
 
Schumer shouted, “I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
 
Yet, there was no action taken against Schumer.

Then after the Dobbs draft opinion was leaked last month which indicated that a majority of Justices voted to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade and 1992 Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey abortion decisions, an armed man attempted to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh. On June 8, Nicholas John Roske was arrested near the Maryland home of Justice Kavanaugh. He was found to be carrying a handgun, two loaded magazines, pistol light, tactical knife, pepper spray, hammer, screwdriver, nail punch, crowbar, duct tape and soft-soled boots. Roske was picked up on a nearby street after calling 911 and indicating he had suicidal feelings and planned to kill Justice Kavanaugh. 

The Senate passed the Supreme Court Police Parity Act of 2022 on May 10 to increase security for Supreme Court Justices’ families. It took a month to pass the House and finally became law on June 16 after Roske's arrest. 

On June 18, a group of pro-abortion youth activists called Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights, wearing fake-blood-stained clothes and holding plastic baby dolls protested outside Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s house. The protesters held signs including one with a coat hanger on it that said, “Not going back.” 

The pro-abortion group Ruth Sent Us published the home addresses of six Justices while calling for protests at these sites and suggested targeting Justice Barrett’s children. They have also been interfering in church services.

Another group, Jane’s Revenge, has threatened a “Night of Rage the Night SCOTUS Overturns Roe v. Wade.”  The flyer they posted around D.C. reads: “To our oppressors: If abortions aren’t safe, you’re not safe. Signed Jane’s Revenge.” 

The group is also taking credit for recent vandalism and arson, window smashing, and fire bombings in several pro-life organizations across the nation. 

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “These abortion activists are terrorizing Supreme Court Justices and their families, and the Biden administration is not enforcing the rule of law. This is wrong. We must protect the Justices of the United States Supreme Court and enforce the rule of law. Intimidating judges has no place in America.” 

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