Judicial conference touches on safety for practitioners of law

Protection and safety for those in the legal community. It’s an issue many don’t often consider when we hear about the cases that filter through the court system. The issue is one of many highlighted during the joint annual District Court of Guam and Biennial Pacific Council Conference underway this week.

Local and federal officials coming together to ensure the protection of others and themselves. Guam’s legal community coming together, as Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood told KUAM News, "Our theme is safety. Safety for lawyers, safety for judges."

The chief speaking during the conference in Tumon today. Asian Development Bank executive director ambassador Chantale Wong returning to Guam to highlight the economic challenges for the region. The discussion with island media – safety for those in the court system.

U.S. Marshals Service director Ronald Davis admitting the overturning of abortion rights is among several reasons officials have their guard up. He said, "Just over the last few years, we’ve seen threats globally rise anywhere from 1,500 to now 4,500 and that’s on an annual basis in the Judiciary. Clearly, we’ve seen an increase in threats due to the Dobbs decision. We’ve seen assaults over actions with the Judiciary. We are also seeing threats against the government, federal law enforcement and the judiciary."

Ninth Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown added, "None of us took this job because we want to win a popularity contest."

McKeown of California expressing similar concerns. "The administrative office of the US Courts as well the Federal Judges Association has really been indefatigable in enforcing the need for judicial security. 00:52 We’ve had a number of tragic incidents."

McKeown recalling the 2020 deadly shooting on a federal judge Esther Salas’ son at their New Jersey home. The attack injuring the judge’s husband and killing her 20-year-old son Daniel Anderl.

The deadly attack prompting legislation to scrub all online information of federal judges and their immediate family members. She said, "It’s difficult for judges to do their job when they are always looking over their shoulder with incidents of security. The other thing I might add is often the public imagine that our greatest security threats come from individuals who have been sentenced or individuals in the criminal justice system. So I think they would be surprised to know that many times it’s a civil law case, a personal gripe or lawsuit that brings someone to threaten and even take action against a judge."

Davis said, "It is very critical that we understand the evolving threats and not just the disgruntled plaintiff. It is now, we are looking at everything from extremism to posing a threat to the judiciary so we can be prepared to respond to that."

The island’s legal community will get a week filled with discussions that also include demystifying cryptocurrency, mental health in and out of the courtroom, and drug trafficking.