A recent investigation has unveiled a troubling reality for over half of U.S. appellate court judges, as their personal information has been discovered to be readily available online. This sensitive data, encompassing details such as home addresses and phone numbers, can easily be accessed through unregulated data broker sites, posing a significant risk to the safety and privacy of these officials. The study, which examined 270 judges, revealed that approximately 56% of them had their personal information listed on these websites, with 50 judges having their details on five or more platforms. The method used to identify this data was alarmingly simple, with researchers only needing the judges’ name, age, city, and state, along with some assistance from algorithms to reconcile any minor discrepancies.
This revelation has sparked serious concerns regarding the safety of judges across the country, as they increasingly become targets of threats, doxxing, and even violent retribution. A recent incident involving Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett serves as a stark reminder of these dangers, as her family received a bomb threat following a contentious ruling against the Trump administration. In another tragic case, a federal judge in New Jersey lost his son to a violent attack by a disgruntled lawyer, prompting the introduction of Daniel’s Law. This legislation mandates that data brokers must remove the personal information of law enforcement officials, including judges, within 10 days. The impact of Daniel’s Law has been significant, garnering support and inspiring similar protective measures in states like Vermont.
In Vermont, lawmakers led by Monique Priestley have been relentless in their efforts to shield judges from the invasive practices of data brokers. Despite a previous bill failing to pass, a revised version has successfully cleared the state’s House of Representatives and is now awaiting approval in the Senate. Atlas Data Privacy, a company dedicated to consumer data protection, has thrown its weight behind this legislation, emphasizing the uphill battle against powerful corporate interests and the data broker industry. The legislative showdown in Vermont is viewed as a crucial litmus test for safeguarding the privacy rights of vulnerable public servants such as judges.
At the federal level, action has been taken to address this pressing issue, with President Joe Biden signing a modified version of Daniel’s Law in December 2022. This federal law extends protections to federal judges and Supreme Court justices, prohibiting the online dissemination of their personal information and imposing penalties on data brokers who violate these regulations. The daily concerns and risks faced by judges are now compounded by the fact that their personal data is not only easily accessible to the public but also exploited for financial gain by these data broker entities. Another study revealed that more than half of state judges have encountered threats, underscoring the widespread apprehension surrounding the exposure of their personal information.
As the debate on privacy and data protection intensifies, the plight of judges caught in the crosshairs of these threats remains a poignant reminder of the urgent need for robust legislative measures to safeguard their safety and confidentiality. The ongoing efforts in Vermont and at the federal level signify a step in the right direction towards fortifying the defenses of these crucial members of the judiciary against the perils of online exposure and exploitation.