Federal judges facing a surge of threats and intimidation are spurring urgent calls for enhanced security measures, with implications reaching into the tech industry’s recruitment processes.
Background / Context
Since President Trump took office in 2025, federal judges who have ruled against his administration have found themselves the target of a new wave of harassment, from “swatting” calls to anonymous pizza deliveries. The U.S. Marshals Service recorded 564 threats against judges in fiscal year 2025, a three‑fold increase over the past decade, and 103 pizza‑delivery incidents directed at judges who opposed Trump’s agenda. As courts grapple with heightened security concerns, employers across the federal judiciary are reevaluating hiring practices to meet the growing demand for cyber‑security experts, data privacy specialists, and secure communications talent.
Key Developments
Senior District Judge John Coughenour of Seattle’s federal court, 84, described how the escalation of threats forced him to retrieve a handgun he had stored at the courthouse and bring it home for self‑defense. The incident followed a swatting call that convinced a sheriff’s deputy that his wife had been murdered. The judge, appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1981, has ruled against Trump on issues ranging from birthright citizenship to executive orders limiting immigration, receiving a wave of threats that forced his family to change security protocols.
Judge Stephen Bough of Kansas City noted his home received unsolicited pizzas at 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., with the same deliveries targeted at his daughter in Atlanta. “You alter your lifestyle and try to encourage your family to do the same,” he told NBC News, detailing how he and his homeowner’s association upgraded the property’s security fences and installed 24‑hour surveillance.
Judge Esther Salas in New Jersey suffered a security breach that forced her to cancel her credit cards. She faced the same anonymous pizza‑delivery tactics, including orders sent to former addresses. Salas, a former partner in a New York law firm, has been outspoken about the “intimidation and violence” faced by the judiciary, following the tragic murder of her son, Daniel Anderl, in 2020.
- Swatting incidents: 2 cases involving Governor’s Office claims; 1 false bomb alert
- Pizza deliveries: 103 incidents in 2025; 20 addressed to Salas’s deceased son’s name
- Threats to judges: 564 total in FY2025; 131 since October alone
The Marshals Service reports that some of the pizza deliveries may involve foreign intelligence actors, with cybersecurity expert Ron Zayas citing “hallmarks of Russian‑allied activity.” The FBI remains unconclusive, but the pattern of “doxing” and personal targeting signals a broader attempt to destabilize the judicial branch.
Impact Analysis – What This Means for Tech Talent and International Students
These security challenges place a premium on technology professionals who can safeguard courthouse communications, protect judges’ personal data, and design resilient public‑access portals. According to a recent Internal Revenue Service analysis, the federal judiciary’s IT budget rose 3.8% in FY2025, with $27.3 million earmarked for cybersecurity upgrades.
For international students seeking careers in public sector cyber‑security, the trend offers both opportunity and caution. Many new hires will be tasked with:
- Assessing third‑party risk for legal tech vendors
- Implementing multi‑factor authentication on judge‑portal logins
- Designing data‑redaction protocols in compliance with the Judicial Security and Privacy Act
- Running incident‑response drills for “swatting” and doxing scenarios
However, the intense threat environment means employers may tighten hiring standards, demanding certifications such as CISSP, CISM, and specialized experience in legal‑technology security frameworks. This raises the bar for international students, many of whom still face visa restrictions that limit on‑the‑ground training and work experience in the U.S. public sector.
Additionally, the rising number of threats may affect court staffing timelines. The Department of Justice recently announced a 12‑month hiring freeze for cyber‑security staff until a comprehensive threat‑analysis report is completed. Students who wait for open positions may find the recruiting cycle longer than anticipated.
Expert Insights / Tips
Cyber‑security analyst Lisa Morgan advises prospective hires to:
- Obtain or upgrade credentials quickly – “the federal government is willing to pay well for proven expertise,” she says.
- Focus on risk assessment for legal‑tech SaaS platforms to mitigate exposure to doxing.
- Build a portfolio that demonstrates real‑world incident‑response, especially in high‑stakes legal environments.
- Network with federal judges’ technology units through conferences such as the American Bar Association Cybersecurity Sessions.
Visa specialists note that the Treasury’s “public service pathway” recently added provisions for fast‑track work authorization for IT professionals with security clearance eligibility. International students should consult immigration attorneys early and explore “specialized technology visas” such as the O‑1 for individuals with extraordinary ability.
When applying to federal judge technology roles, Morgan recommends “target your cover letter to the security concerns highlighted in recent threat reports.” This demonstrates awareness of the unique challenges faced by the judiciary and shows alignment with the agency’s top priorities.
Looking Ahead – Future Implications
As the judiciary continues to adapt to a hostile environment, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals is set to grow sharply. Judge Coughenour’s willingness to “arm himself” has prompted the Marhsals Service to launch a new “Home‑Security Grant” program worth $15 million for judges needing 24‑hour monitoring systems.
President Trump announced a “Judicial Resilience Act” in late December, which includes provisions for joint federal‑state partnerships on law‑enforcement intelligence sharing, and increased grant funding to court tech departments. The bipartisan bill also calls for a federal “Cybersecurity Workforce Development Initiative,” earmarking $50 million to hire federal judges’ tech staff, with a focus on under‑represented minorities and international talent.
Should the threat landscape intensify, more courts may adopt “dark‑room” secure browsers for judges, limiting public access to sensitive docket information. This could influence how tech talent shapes court‑public interfaces, balancing transparency against privacy and safety. International students who graduate in 2026-2027 will likely find a pipeline of opportunities in courts that are reshaping their technology stacks to meet unprecedented security demands.
Industry analysts predict that by 2028, federal courts will have integrated AI‑driven threat detection into daily workflow, requiring tech specialists who can train models on legal datasets while defending against adversarial attacks. This could lead to a new niche within public‑sector cybersecurity, merging legal expertise with machine‑learning acumen.
For scholars, researchers, and students, the shift also signifies changing educational pathways. Universities offering interdisciplinary programs that blend law, computer science, and public policy—especially those with partnerships with federal agencies—will become critical pipelines for future hires.
Conclusion
In a time when federal judges are under unprecedented threat, the intersection of judicial security and technology recruitment is more critical than ever. Those ready to navigate this evolving landscape—whether they are tech professionals, policymakers, or international students—must stay informed about emerging threats, capitalize on new hiring opportunities, and align their skills with the judiciary’s urgent security priorities.
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