The marshal of the Supreme Court docket is being assisted by the U.S. Marshals — the legislation enforcement arm devoted to defending the nation's highest court docket — in defending the justices since final week's leak of a draft opinion suggesting landmark abortion legislation Roe v. Wade can be overturned.
"The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) has a robust partnership with the Supreme Court docket Police, and upon the request of the Marshal of the Supreme Court docket, the USMS does present help as wanted," the U.S. Marshals Service stated in an announcement. "The USMS is at the moment aiding the Marshal of the Supreme Court docket in response to elevated safety considerations stemming from the unauthorized launch of the draft opinion; nonetheless, the USMS doesn't touch upon particular safety measures."
CBS Information has obtained a number of state legislation enforcement bulletins and evaluation reflecting elevated vigilance because the leak. Whereas they do not cite particular or credible threats of violence, some provide early warning indicators or requires violence that had already been posted earlier than the leak.
Final week, Politico printed a draft opinion from February suggesting a majority of justices supported overturning Roe v. Wade, and Chief Justice John Roberts later confirmed the draft opinion was real. Remaining opinions, that are issued in June, can differ from draft opinions.
Since then, there have been abortions rights protests nationwide, and demonstrations have been held outdoors the houses of Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. A protest is deliberate Monday night time outdoors the house of Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the draft.
Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell condemned these protests, saying "attempting to scare federal judges into ruling a sure method is much outdoors the bounds of First Modification speech."
The Senate on Monday handed by unanimous consent a invoice that might develop safety safety to the instant relations of Supreme Court docket justices. The invoice was launched by Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware and Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas final week.
"Threats to the bodily security of Supreme Court docket Justices and their households are disgraceful, and makes an attempt to intimidate and affect the independence of our judiciary can't be tolerated," Cornyn stated in an announcement. "I am glad the Senate shortly authorized this measure to increase Supreme Court docket police safety to relations, and the Home should take up and go it instantly."
The invoice nonetheless must be authorized by the Home earlier than it could head to president's desk for his signature.
White Home press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Monday that whereas President Biden "strongly believes within the Constitutional proper to protest," these protests ought to by no means embody "violence, threats, or vandalism."
"Judges carry out an extremely vital perform in our society, and so they should be capable to do their jobs with out concern for his or her private security," Psaki wrote.
Catherine Herridge, Matthew Mosk and Nicole Sganga contributed to this report.