Amy Coney Barrett Wears Bulletproof Vest Due to Threats

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has revealed she is forced to wear a bulletproof vest because of threats she has received. She testified before a House subcommittee on Tuesday, explaining that the level of danger is so high that it justifies the Supreme Court's requested 10% budget increase, which would go toward enhanced security measures.

According to Barrett, her security detail gave her the vest after the leak of the Dobbs draft opinion in 2022 — the document that revealed the Court's intention to overturn Roe v. Wade, sparking protests and threats against the justices. Since then, the precaution has become routine for her, though it brings considerable inconvenience.

A particularly awkward situation occurred when her 12-year-old son saw her bringing the vest home. Barrett had to explain to the child why she needed such protection, and she admitted the conversation was not age-appropriate. She noted that the children of justices also bear the consequences of their parents' work.

Additionally, Barrett recounted being the victim of a 'swatting' incident, where someone made a false report of gunfire at her home. As a result, police swarmed her street, and only the intervention of the Supreme Court Police helped resolve the situation by explaining to local authorities that it was a false alarm.

'I was very, very grateful that I had Supreme Court Police outside my home because they were able to stop and meet with and explain to the county police that it had been a false alarm, and so the police did not actually attempt to enter our home,' Barrett said during the hearing.

The issue of threats against judges is acute: according to the U.S. Marshals Service, there have been 370 threats to federal judges so far this year. This underscores the seriousness of the situation and the need for additional funding to protect those who serve the law.

Later in the day, Barrett is also scheduled to testify before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, where she will continue discussing security and budget matters. Her testimony is likely to draw wide attention, given public interest in the safety of Supreme Court justices after recent high-profile incidents.