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Police officers in front of Judge Brett Kavanaugh's home (in September 2021)
Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP
The US Congress has decided to increase protections for the judges of the country's Supreme Court shortly before an expected ruling on abortion rights.
After the Senate, the House of Representatives on Tuesday also voted in favor of legislation extending police protection for constitutional judges to include their families.
The bill now has to be signed by US President Joe Biden.
Fears about the safety of constitutional judges and their families have recently been raised.
A gunman was arrested near the home of Conservative Judge Brett Kavanaugh last week.
According to his own statements, he wanted to kill the judge out of anger over a leaked draft judgment on abortion rights.
According to the draft, the Supreme Court could replace the landmark judgment »Roe v.
Wade« by which the Court of Justice enshrined a fundamental right to abortion in 1973.
The announcement of the draft caused outraged reactions and nationwide protests.
A decision is expected later in June, before the Supreme Court's trial year ends.
A decision on gun law is also expected, which, like abortion law, is highly controversial in the USA.
Up to 20 years in prison for alleged plan against judge
After the draft judgment became known, there had already been protests in front of the houses of several conservative Supreme Court judges, including Kavanaugh, who was appointed by ex-President Donald Trump.
The security measures in front of the judges' houses and in front of the courthouse itself were then increased.
Kavanaugh is one of six US Supreme Court justices considered conservative.
They face three more liberal judges.
The man arrested outside the Kavanaugh home has been charged with the attempted murder of a US judge.
According to the prosecutor, Nicholas R. had a gun, a knife and pepper spray with him when he was arrested.
If convicted, R. faces up to 20 years in prison.
US President Biden "strongly condemned" the threats against Kavanaugh, the White House said.
jok/AFP