The Bench Under Siege

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The number of reported threats against federal judges and prosecutors has increased dramatically since the Marshals Service began collecting figures in 1979. In the 1980s, there were about 240 complaints a year; in the past seven years, there have been about 700 annually. The service estimates that 1 in 10 threats escalates or turns violent. At least two federal judges have been assaulted since 2001. The rate of violence is higher among state and local judges, who receive less protection. Prosecutors, too, face regular harassment. About eight have been killed in the past 30 years, according to Dan Alsobrooks, former president of the National District Attorneys Association.

In 2001 a new law raised the penalties for threatening federal judges or their families. Since then, funding for judicial security has increased 50%. With the Lefkow murders, some officials are calling for more money. But strategy may be just as important as resources. Courthouses have been fortified since 9/11. But all three murdered federal judges were killed at their homes. Anderson suggests putting cameras near judges' houses. "We're living in a world where so much is known about us," he says. The Marshals Service might also benefit from some changes. In a withering 2004 report, the Department of Justice's inspector general accused the service of using inconsistent protection policies and out-of-date threat assessments.

Judge Lefkow and her four daughters as well as Michael's daughter from a prior relationship are currently under armed federal guard in an undisclosed location. But Lefkow says she intends to return to the bench. Meanwhile, on Internet message boards, white supremacists are buzzing about the murders, continuing to castigate the Lefkows, their children and grandchildren, three of whom are biracial, and at the same time speculating that the killings might be the work of Jews. On Stormfront, an old posting of the Lefkows' home address was still visible four days after the murders. --Reported by Brian Bennett/ Washington, Noah Isackson/Chicago, Marguerite Michaels/East Peoria and Nadia Mustafa/ New York