WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two Supreme Court Justices made a rare appearance on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning, taking questions from lawmakers not about their recent landmark decisions but about the Court’s request for additional funds for security.
Sitting Supreme Court Justices rarely speak in public but for the first time in years, two sitting Justices testified to Congress. While they weren’t there to discuss recent rulings they’ve issued, they were there as part of a hearing that focused on the Court’s $228- million-dollar-budget request for the next fiscal year, an increase from the previous year. Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified most of the increase would go towards security purposes.
“The Capitol Police Chief recently testified that threats against Congress are up 50 percent this year,” said Justice Kagan. “The Supreme Court police expect a smaller but substantial 38 percent annual increase in threats this year, which follows a 25 percent increase last year.”
Justice Kagan told members threats have come very close to the Justices in recent years. We’ve previously reported on protests taking place outside of Justice Samuel Alito’s home in 2022. During the hearing, Justice Barrett shared her personal experiences.
“A few years ago around the time of the Dobbs leak, my security team sent me home with a bulletproof vest and I carried it into my house to my bedroom, dropped it down on my table, turned around and my 12-year-old son was standing there in the doorway of my bedroom and he wanted to know what it was and why I had it,” recalled Justice Kagan. “And I didn’t know how to respond. Maybe because I lack imagination but I didn’t expect performing this position would include explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was and why I had to wear one. It’s also been reported in the news that roughly six weeks ago I was the victim of a swatting incident.”
While the hearing remained cordial on both sides of the aisle, Members did ask questions about Justices’ ethics, receiving gifts and financial disclosures. Justices remained focused on navigating their positions during tense times.
“Federal judges across the country throughout the judiciary including the Supreme Court continue to do their jobs without fear or favor, but the threat level is really high,” said Justice Barrett.
