Booker and Cruz Clash Over Threats to U.S. Judges in Fiery Senate Debate

A heated confrontation erupted Tuesday between Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, underscoring the escalating tensions surrounding threats to federal judges in the midst of President Donald Trump’s second term. The session, pointedly titled "The Supposedly Least Dangerous Branch: District Judges v. Trump," was marked by sharp exchanges as lawmakers grappled with an unprecedented swell in court injunctions challenging presidential executive actions—and a parallel spike in security concerns for members of the federal judiciary.

Senator Cruz, chairing the subcommittee, opened the proceedings by criticizing Democrats for what he called “utter silence” regarding judicial threats that occurred under the Biden administration, specifically referencing protests outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh during the lead-up to the landmark Dobbs decision. That ruling overturned nearly half a century of abortion rights precedent, drawing fierce protests and igniting new debates over the security and independence of the judiciary.

Senator Booker fired back swiftly, branding Cruz’s accusation as “dangerous” and “absolutely absurd.” Emphasizing bipartisan concern over the safety of the judiciary, Booker insisted that Democrats had joined their Republican colleagues to condemn such acts and support legislation to enhance security measures for judges. “To say things like that just feeds the partisanship in this institution, and it feeds the fiery rhetoric,” Booker said, urging his colleagues to avoid misstating each other’s records.

The exchange grew increasingly testy as Cruz pressed the point that federal law—specifically U.S.C. Section 1507, which prohibits demonstrations outside judges’ homes—had not been enforced by the Biden Justice Department. In rapid-fire interruptions, Cruz asked pointedly whether even a single protester had been arrested under this statute, receiving no direct answer as Booker repeatedly tried to clarify Democratic actions and condemnations regarding threats against justices.

“I am sick and tired of hearing the kind of heated partisan rhetoric, which is one of the reasons why we have such divisions in this country,” Booker declared at one point, raising his voice after several interruptions. Cruz, meanwhile, openly laughed, dismissing Booker’s arguments and mocking him with a reference to “Spartacus”—a nod to Booker’s earlier high-profile stands during confirmation hearings.

The fraught debate highlighted a core issue: the alarming rise in threats against federal judges amid a tumultuous period of lawsuits and legal challenges to Trump’s executive orders. According to recent figures from the U.S. Marshals Service, more than 370 threats against federal judges have been investigated since Trump’s second inauguration—a rate surpassing previous years and raising the stakes for judicial protection nationwide. Democrats used the hearing to underscore the need for the Justice Department and FBI to aggressively pursue those engaging in intimidation tactics, including a troubling trend of anonymous “pizza deliveries” intended to reveal judges’ home addresses.

The backdrop to the heated exchanges is a federal judiciary under intense pressure, with frequent public criticism from Trump himself—who has labeled some judges as “activists”—prompting a rare public warning from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts about the need to safeguard judicial independence. As both parties continue to spar over accountability and responsibility for protecting judges, the threat environment shows no sign of abating, ensuring that the safety and impartiality of the courts will remain at the center of Washington’s most contentious debates.