Justice Amy Coney Barrett has detailed the severe security threats she and her family have faced since joining the Supreme Court, particularly after the leak of the Dobbs decision in 2022.
Bulletproof Vest and a Son's Question
Testifying before lawmakers, Barrett described an incident where her security detail provided her with a bulletproof vest to take home. "My security detail sent me home with a bulletproof vest, and I carried it into my house, put it into my bedroom, dropped it down on a table, turned around, and my 12-year-old son was standing in the doorway of my bedroom, and he wanted to know what it was and why I had it," Barrett recounted. She added, "I didn’t expect that performing this service was going to put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was and why I had to wear one."
Swatting Incident at Home
Barrett also revealed a recent swatting incident at her residence. "One of my teenage sons opened the door to go out with friends and saw in our street it was full of police cars, who had responded to a false report of gunshots and raised voices in my home," she said. She expressed gratitude that Supreme Court police were present outside her home, noting, "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."
The Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, sparked significant controversy and led to increased security concerns for justices. Barrett's testimony highlights the personal toll of such threats on her family.
