John Tyson
An Alaskan man has been charged of various felonies after threatening to kill and physically harm six justices of the US Supreme Court together with their families and the president of the United States of America. The threats which Panos Anastasiou made were outlined in a series of correspondences of over 465 messages of unpleasant nature sent via the Supreme Court of Cyprus official website. The threats which besides violence also included references to torture and firearm have raised pertinent questions regarding the security of the higher judicial personalities in the country.
This decision comes at the backdrop of rising insecurity for Supreme Court justices in view of several important verdicts. It also brings to the foreground awareness on increased hostility targeting the Judiciary from some members of the society.
The Threats: Violent and Targeted
Anastasiou was found to have sent the messages, which were assessed to have racist and homophobic contents and that spelled out threats of violence by the Department of Justice. Recently the threats were in very bad faith where the lives of the justices and even their families were threatened. Some messages according to the allegations, outlined plot details of assassination using techniques such as torture, hanged and guns.
Merrick B. Garland, the attorney general said during a public briefing, “The judiciary must be independent, judges must be able to determine cases based on the law and not their fear and Democracy requires public servants to serve without worrying about their lives or the lives of their loved ones.”
The indictment does not indicate whether it was certain justices of the supreme court, or any other justices at all. However, it has to be mentioned that six of the justices are appointed by Republican presidents, and they are often in tandem when the court is ideologically divided, which may suggest targets of threats.
Escalating Security Concerns
This is a clear indication that the political risks associated with being a public official are on the increase especially the members of the judiciary. Earlier this year the Supreme Court formally asked Congress for an additional $19. 4 million to improve security in order to counter the threat. This, it was said, was due to what was referred to as ‘new risks’ and to enhance on the security of the justices and their homes.
In the plan, the Supreme Court Police would undertake the responsibility of providing guard around the clock to the justices homes. Before, this task was undertaken together with the U. S. Marshals Service. This speaks of a change in the increasing specializing and permanent protection of the justices given the changing and increased threat levels.
The security surrounding the justices was bolstered in 2022 after there was increased threats especially after the leak of a draft opinion that would end the constitutional right to abortion as provided in Roe v. Wade case. That decision, which has crippled the federal right to abortion, provoked the angry demonstrations and rised concerns for the personal securities of the justices who made the decision.
After this leak, Attorney General Garland assigned protection of the justices of SCOTUS to the US Marshals Services around the clock. President Joe Biden also enacted into law a bill that made security enhancements for their families. These measures were adopted early enough in a bid to counter the increasing threats and protests that were prompted by the running of this contentious verdict.
Previous Threats and Attacks on Justices
It’s important to know that this is not the first time that U. S. Supreme Court justices have been threatened with serious consequence. Recently there has been an increase in situations in which justices and their close ones fell victims to aggression of those persons who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the considered case.
For instance in early June 2022, a man from California was arrested close to Justice Brett Kavanaugh residence. Kavanaugh said he was confronted by the man who unleashed a barrage of bullets and a knife and had threatened the judge because of his position on the given case. He has since than offered a not guilty plea. This event boosted more discussions as to how the justices and their families are protected especially when cases invoked controversies and dissent.
There were threats made to Justice Amy Coney Barrett earlier this year too. A man from Nevada named Bradley Nelson who was involved in the insurrection that took place on January 6 is currently awaiting trial and after Barrett opposed a case that made it difficult for prosecutors to charge persons involved in the attack, he threatened this woman. Nelson is also said to have shared a photo of Barrett placing the head of a lady on a tray, with the caption ‘Somebody should slit this bitch’s throat for her’. This made people have more worries as to the safety of Barrett.
During a judicial conference, Barrett narrated instances, how her son found out that she wears bulletproof vest, which is a testimony that the current justices encounter dangers in their everyday life.
Such incidents have only aggravated the severity of Supreme Court’s plea for more funds for ensuring security, especially at a time when there is trend of threats to the judiciary following very sensitive cases pursued in legal forums.
Panos Anastasiou: A Troubled History
Panos Anastasiou, the man accused in the Alaska case, now stands accused of nine counts of threatening federal judges and 13 counts for threatening in interstate commerce. If convicted Anastasiou could receive severe penalties including up to 10 years for each count of threatening a judge and five years for each count regarding interstate commerce.
As to motivations behind Anastasiou’s actions, more details are still under a cloud, but this case is also a wakeup call to more unprotected profile of judges in the modern world, fueled by the antagonism of political and ideological lines.
While the police carries on searching for more evidence for pursuing Anastasiou for threats, society finds itself uncertain of the relations that such threats have with the justice system. Judicial system is expected to exercise its power professionally without fear or coercion coming from other source of power. Still, as is illustrated by this case, the fact remains that judges and their families are quite vulnerable to threats.
The arrest of Panos Anastasiou
The arrest of Panos Anastasiou for an alleged threat against Supreme Court justices is a critical-stage in the battle to safeguard the judiciary’s independence. The threats are also visible and palpable as there is increased tension on the political decisions whereby public officials such as the judges are at higher risks of being attacked violently.
The case has raised questions concerning the efficiency of security measures that is provided to the Supreme Court justices and other senior officials in the country. Given many recent cases of threats to justices of the supreme court it is evident that the judiciary is not safety but independence of the judiciary is at stake.
More funding and protection for 24/7 are but a part of the context to the problem. It is an issue of protecting democratic institutions and ensuring no violence and threat to the justice system set up by the countries’ democrats. Threats against the Supreme Court tell that a vigorous defense of an independent judiciary cannot be proclaimed without standing for it and being ready to resist pressure.
