The Wisconsin Supreme Court has experienced a wave of threats as part of a widespread harassment campaign targeting public officials and institutions, a trend that has been on the rise nationwide in recent years.
Justice Karofsky Stresses Threat Severity
Justice Jill Karofsky, who was appointed to the court in 2020, said these threats must be dealt with with the utmost seriousness.
Officials Need to Step Up
In an interview with The Washington Post, Justice Karofsky stressed that officials must be outspoken in their efforts to inform the public about the threats.
Democracy at Risk
Karofsky warned that failure to address these issues could result in losing the battle for democracy.
Use Violence and Intimidation
“We are at a moment of time where our democracy literally is on the line, and we have to figure out if we are just going to turn it over to a bunch of insurrectionists who think it is perfectly okay to use violence and intimidation to get the rulings that they want in a courtroom,” she stated.
“We’re Going to Lose this Battle”
The justice added, “Or are we going to have a democracy where people follow the rule of law? And if I don’t stand up and if other people don’t stand up, and we don’t talk about this, we’re going to lose this battle.”
Growing Number of Threats in the Country
Government officials, including justices and lawmakers across the country, increasingly face a growing number of threats.
Trump Disqualification and Aftermath
The Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state, both of which disqualified Donald Trump from running for president in 2024 due to his involvement in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, faced a wave of threats after becoming targets of Trump’s criticism in speeches and social media posts.
“Extra Patrols” for Colorado Justices
The Denver police, in response to these threats, provided “extra patrols” to Colorado justice’s homes in December.
Man Arrested for Threatening Lawmaker
Federal authorities arrested a Florida man on Jan. He had issued threats to kill California Representative Rep. Eric Swalwell and his children.
Rise in Swatting Incidents
Incidents of swatting, a prank call to emergency services designed to draw a law enforcement response, are also rising in the country.
Swatting Incident at a Judge’s Home
Law enforcement officers, on Jan 7, responded to an alleged swatting incident at the home of Federal Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, presiding over Trump’s election subversion case in Washington, D.C.
Republicans Lawmakers Reported Threats
Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Brandon Williams also reported swatting threats on their social media posts.
Bomb Threats Across the Nation
In early January, bomb threats forced evacuations, closures, or stepped-up security measures at more than a dozen state capitols, including Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Arizona, and many other states.
“Deeply Disturbing Spike”
On Jan 12, Attorney General Merrick Garland described the surge in threats against government employees and public officials as a “deeply disturbing spike.”
Wisconsin Court Members Faced Intimidation
The intimidation against the Wisconsin Supreme Court members escalated following the court’s 2020 decision, which affirmed President Joe Biden’s victory in Wisconsin over then-President Donald Trump.
Aftermath of the Court Ruling
The ruling, narrowly passed at 4-3, provoked a surge of threats, some displaying misogynistic and antisemitic undertones.
Conservative to a Liberal majority
In 2023, the court transitioned from a conservative to a liberal majority. This shift led to a pivotal decision to reject and redraw Republican-drawn legislative maps.
Politically Competitive State
Wisconsin is one of the nation’s most politically competitive states, with Democrats and Republicans holding positions as governors and senators over the last two decades.
Political Polarization
However, for more than a decade, the legislature has remained firmly under GOP control, largely attributed to heavily gerrymandered electoral districts that have faced criticism from Democrats for years and in February were finally changed. Consequently, this struggle has led to high political polarization within the state.
Pressure on the Judiciary
Justice Karofsky, representing the liberal wing of the court, believes the threats are a tactic to sway judicial decisions.
Violence as Tools of Influence.
She described the intimidation as coming mainly from extreme right-wing factions, employing threats and violence as tools of influence.
Catastrophic Outcome
Her concerns extend beyond the court, as she fears these actions might lead to a catastrophic outcome.
Karofsky Takes Threats Seriously
Karofsky said, “I believe people when they say that they want to hurt us or kill us. I don’t think they’re idle threats.”
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