Federal Judges Targeted by Pizza Doxings Amid Political Polarization

Judges who have ruled against Donald Trump have recently become targets of unsolicited pizza deliveries, a tactic referred to as "pizza doxings," often made in the name of Daniel Anderl, the 20-year-old son of Judge Esther Salas, who was killed in a 2020 shooting by a disgruntled litigant posing as a deliveryman [1]. These deliveries have sometimes been accompanied by death threats and threatening phone calls, highlighting a troubling trend of intimidation directed at the judiciary. In a rare public discussion, multiple federal judges shared their experiences with such threats, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of these attacks and the political polarization that has fueled them.

Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., of Rhode Island, who resisted Trump's spending cuts, received pizzas in Anderl's name and also fielded threatening phone calls, including one that included explicit language calling for his assassination [1]. The public discussion among federal judges was notable for the rarity of such open dialogue, as judges typically refrain from commenting publicly on threats or personal attacks. Esther Salas, whose son was killed in the 2020 attack, has since urged political leaders, particularly Trump and his allies, to refrain from inciting hostility toward the judiciary. She warned that continued rhetoric demonizing judges could invite further violence against them.

The U.S. Marshals Service, which protects federal judges, reported over 100 cases of pizza doxings since 2024, with the majority occurring in 2025 [1]. These incidents frequently target judges who have ruled against Trump or his allies, including those who have challenged executive orders or legal maneuvers. Some state judges have also been targeted, though such cases are not tracked by the Marshals Service. The pattern of attacks has prompted increased security measures for more than 50 judges, including the removal of their identifying information from public websites. In 2022, Congress passed a law named after Daniel Anderl, which allows judges to sue online platforms to have personal information removed [1].

Despite these measures, many judges remain hesitant to speak openly about the threats they face, fearing disciplinary action or backlash. Trump has frequently criticized judges who rule against him on social media, calling them “sick,” “dangerous,” and “lunatic.” His allies have amplified this rhetoric, with some distributing “wanted” posters of judges who ruled against the [1]. Earlier this year, the Trump administration took an unprecedented step by suing every federal judge in Maryland over immigration rulings, escalating tensions between the executive and judicial branches.

The growing trend of threats and attacks on judges underscores a broader crisis in the U.S. judicial system, where the independence of judges is increasingly challenged by political actors and public figures. As judges continue to face personal risks for upholding the law, the debate over judicial security and political rhetoric remains unresolved.

Source: [1] What is pizza doxing? https://fortune.com/2025/07/31/what-is-pizza-doxing-judges-rule-against-trump/