Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett appeared before House lawmakers on Tuesday to request a budget increase for judiciary security, as reported by The Guardian.
During the hearing, the justices confirmed that each member of the nation's highest court currently receives between four and eight security personnel.
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Barrett explained that the protective coverage is dynamic and escalates during periods of heightened risk.
Kagan indicated the court intends to expand these measures as resources allow.
"We'd like to increase that over time when we get to our full staffing needs," she said.
Lawmakers Stress Need for Safety and Independence
Representative Steny Hoyer, ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee, noted that such congressional appearances by sitting justices had not occurred since 2019.
"With a deeply divided country and increasingly violent rhetoric being directed at judges, Congress must provide sufficient funding to ensure the safety of all judicial personnel," Hoyer said in his opening statement.
Hoyer also emphasized Congress's role in safeguarding judicial independence. "Part of that is making certain that there is adequate funding for the public defenders," he added.
Representative Rosa DeLauro addressed the court's ethical guidelines following scrutiny of Justice Clarence Thomas over unreported luxury travel.
She called for "increased financial disclosure requirements and a binding, enforceable code of ethics."
DeLauro described the court's current voluntary code of conduct as "woefully insufficient" and stressed the need for public confidence in judicial rulings.
