Georgia is seeing an “alarming increase in attacks on our court,” but it is “crucial that our courtrooms are secure and those who work within them can perform their duties without fear.”
That was the message of Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs during his State of the Judiciary on Tuesday.
“It seems that our entire system of justice, a bedrock of our democracy, is under attack,” Boggs said. “These threats take many forms, from threats posed by disinformation and actual violence to threats posed by citizens and even elected officials publicly stating their intention to not honor and abide by lawful court decisions.
“We know that you too have experienced physical threats as we all recall the instances of swatting that plagued our elected officials less than a year ago,” Boggs added. “These threats simply cannot be tolerated as the “new norm” in our society as they threaten the very core of our democracy. And make no mistake, threats against judges are increasing.”
According to the United States Marshals Service, which protects the nation’s federal courts, threats against federal judges have tripled over the last decade, up from 179 instances of credible threats in 2019 to 457 in 2023. No agency tracks threats against Georgia judges.
“However, increasing anecdotal evidence shows that we are continuing to see a precipitous increase of threats against judges, clerks, and court staff,” Boggs said. “Just last month, bomb threats forced the closure and evacuation of the Muscogee County courthouse.”
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