Amy Coney Barrett Recalls Having To Wear Bulletproof Vest At Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett recently shared that she had to wear a bulletproof vest following a threat, based on law enforcement's recommendation.

While Barrett did not detail the nature of the threat, a January 6 defendant was imprisoned last month after allegedly calling for someone to slit Barrett's throat "from ear to ear." This threat came after Barrett dissented in a Supreme Court case that was favorable to numerous January 6 defendants.

Barrett made these remarks during the Tenth Circuit's judicial conference in Colorado Springs, where she was in discussion with Judge Jerome A. Holmes and Judge Allison H. Eid. She recounted that her 13-year-old son, upon seeing the vest on a bed, inquired if it was a bulletproof jacket. Initially concerned, Barrett wondered if she should have hidden it from him. However, her son responded with enthusiasm, saying, "That's so cool! Can I try it on?" This anecdote elicited laughter from the audience, according to The Washington Post.

Barrett noted that this incident was among the "parenting experiences I wasn't quite prepared for" since her appointment to the Supreme Court. She remarked that while her seven children have adapted "just beautifully" to her role, it has been challenging to have U.S. Marshals accompany her during travel.

On August 6, Maryland Judge Charles Austin revoked the bail of January 6 defendant Bradley Scott Nelson after he reportedly made violent threats against Barrett. Austin cited a Department of Justice claim that Nelson had issued threats against public figures on social media in June and July.

Nelson’s threats reportedly followed a Supreme Court decision that significantly limited how prosecutors can apply federal obstruction laws against Donald Trump and many January 6 defendants. The case, Fischer v. U.S., ruled by a 6-3 majority, established that for a charge of obstructing a federal proceeding, a defendant must have impaired records or other tangible evidence used in the official proceeding. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the conservative majority, while Barrett dissented along with liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

In her dissent, Barrett wrote, "Joseph Fischer allegedly participated in a riot at the Capitol that delayed Congress's joint session on January 6th. Blocking an official proceeding surely qualifies as obstructing or impeding the proceeding by means other than document destruction."

Following her dissent, Nelson allegedly posted on social media threatening to cut Barrett's throat "from ear to ear," as noted by Austin. He also posted videos threatening two FBI agents involved in his January 6 case. The government described Nelson as becoming "verbally combative and confrontational" towards one agent, prompting a deputy U.S. Marshal to escort the agent to their vehicle for safety.

Nelson has pleaded not guilty to charges including entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct, and parading or picketing on Capitol grounds, and is awaiting trial.