{"success":true,"data":{"id":"f0fb6ba3-4e07-4120-9338-900c0aceefae","title":"Amy Coney Barrett recalls moment son found her bulletproof vest as Supreme Court justices plead for protection","summary":"Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Not now Yes please US Edition Change Support Now NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMoney TravelTravel PremiumPremium More More Thank you for regi...","content":"## Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent\n\nNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.\n\nNot now Yes please\n\nUS Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# Amy Coney Barrett recalls moment son found her bulletproof vest as Supreme Court justices plead for protection\n\n## Justice Barrett’s home was also targeted by a fake swatting call to police in May\n\n[Lindsay Whitehurst](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/lindsay-whitehurst)Tuesday 14 July 2026 17:43 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nJudges around the country have seen a rise in threats of violence and intimidation(AFP via Getty Images)\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\nSupreme Court Justice [Amy Coney Barrett](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/amy-coney-barrett) told lawmakers Tuesday that a significant surge in [threats](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/threats) against her and fellow justices is increasingly intruding upon their private and family lives.\n\nDuring a rare appearance before Congress, Justice Barrett recounted having to wear a bulletproof vest home a few years ago, an experience she struggled to explain to her 12-year-old son.\n\n\"I didn't expect that performing this service would put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was, why I had to wear one,\" she stated.\n\nShe and Justice [Elena Kagan](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/elena-kagan) testified before a House appropriations panel, advocating for increased security funding for members of the nation’s highest court. Judges across the country have witnessed a rise in violent threats and intimidation. Justice Barrett’s home was also targeted by a fake swatting call to police in May.\n\nThe hearing occurred two weeks after the conservative-majority court delivered a series of significant opinions, including a decision that expanded President Donald Trump’s power over federal regulatory agencies and another that rejected his wide-ranging tariffs, which drew sharp personal criticism.\n\nThe Supreme Court has requested a total of $228 million for next fiscal year, a roughly 10% increase over the year before(AFP via Getty Images)\n\nThis marks the first time justices have testified before Congress since 2019, with both justices facing extensive questions about the court's operations.\n\n## Security is central to the Supreme Court's budget request\n\nThe Supreme Court requested a total of $228 million for next fiscal year, a roughly 10% increase over the year before. About $18 million of that is for maintaining the building and grounds.\n\nMuch of the requested increase, $14.6 million, would go to expanding personal protection for justices, with six more agents for each.\n\nAn additional $2 million would fund an off-site residential security post aimed at making emergency responses faster, as well as increasing the number of Supreme Court police officers.\n\nThe U.S. Marshals Service, responsible for protecting judges, reported 564 threats in the government fiscal year that ended in September, an increase from the year before.\n\nThat total includes threats to the hundreds of federal judges around the country, though the nine-member Supreme Court has not been immune.\n\nIn May, Barrett’s security detail worked with police to quickly deal with the call determined to be swatting, or a fake 911 call designed to provoke a police response. Last year, her sister was the victim of a bomb threat in Charleston, South Carolina, police said. No bomb was found.\n\nIn 2022, shortly after the leak of a draft opinion overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion decision, a would-be assassin was arrested near the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh with weapons and zip ties. Threats to the Supreme Court increased after that leak, and have continued to grow, Kagan said.\n\nChief Justice John Roberts has condemned the threats to all U.S. judges, saying during a speech in March that criticism of judicial opinions is understandable, but personally directed hostility is “dangerous, and it’s got to stop.”\n\n### More about\n\n### Most popular\n\n### Popular videos\n\n### Bulletin","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/supreme-court-justice-amy-coney-son-bulletproof-vest-threats-security-b3014808.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/supreme-court-justice-amy-coney-son-bulletproof-vest-threats-security-b3014808.html","author":"Lindsay Whitehurst","author_name":"Lindsay Whitehurst","published_at":"2026-07-14T16:43:46.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-14T16:43:46.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/14/16/21/GettyImages-2285440118.jpg","category":"politics","topic":"politics","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":5,"word_count":824,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}