By Manny Marotta, FTC law clerk

Thousands of legal professionals and students convened online yesterday to hear from experts about the growing number of threats to the federal judiciary.

The event, called Speak Up for Justice, is believed to be one of the largest legal forums in American history.

Speakers included D. N.J. Judge Esther Salas, Calif. Court of Appeal Justice Eileen Moore, retired federal judge Paul Grimm, Sept. 11 Special Master Ken Feinberg and Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. The event was organized by L.A.-based attorney Paul Kiesel.

The speakers offered insights on protecting judicial independence amid rising anti-democratic rhetoric and a sharp increase in the number of threats against judges.

“The attacks against the judiciary [are] a bonfire,” Judge Salas said. “And people are throwing accelerants on this fire. We are facing a […] targeted strike against judges in the form of intimidation.” Salas’ son, Daniel, was murdered on July 19, 2020, in an attempt to kill Judge Salas and her family.

Judge Salas said that in recent weeks that intimidation has included the delivery of “hundreds of pizzas” to judges’ homes and the homes of their family members, sometimes in the name of her son. Salas says these deliveries are a signal that those threatening the judges know where they live and that they might bring more harm in the future.

She said she expects the Justice Department to investigate the pizza-sending.

Federal judges for their part are seeking out opportunities to speak up to, per Judge Grimm, “shed some light, and not some heat” on the threats and attacks.

Lawmakers, too, are letting their voices be heard. On Friday, 10 senators sent a letter to the Acting Director of the U.S. Marshals Service seeking clarification on the steps being taken to protect the safety of judges. The letter also sought to ensure that the USMS has the necessary resources to continue protecting judges.

“At the end of the day,” Feinberg said, “when all else fails in the courtroom or in the street, the rule of law prevails. […] Without that rule of law, there is no freedom, no liberty and no democracy.”

Speak Up for Justice expects to host more events in the coming weeks.