MSBA is appalled at the murder of Kentucky Judge Kevin Mullins, fatally shot by a sheriff in his chambers. Judge Mullins served as a district court judge since 2009 and gained recognition for his efforts to treat those with drug addiction rather than incarcerate them. He was recently appointed to a state judicial commission on mental health. Judge Mullins’ murder follows the tragic killing of Maryland judge and MSBA member Andrew Wilkinson by a litigant in 2023 and rising threats and violence against the judiciary across the country.
In 2021, individuals protected by the U.S. Marshals Service (including federal judges, prosecutors, and court officials) faced over 4,500 threats, a 400% increase since 2015. While there is no comparable data for threats and violence against the estimated 30,000 judicial officers in state and local courts, a survey by the National Judicial College of mostly state judges found that nearly 90% were worried about their safety in 2022 and one out of three had carried a handgun for protection at some point.
MSBA remains committed to supporting legislation and advocacy efforts to prioritize security for judges and the legal profession, including the recent passage in Maryland of SB575 (Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson Judicial Security Act - 2024) and pending federal legislation (S. 3984/H.R. 8093 - The Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act) that would create a state resource center, provide technical assistance and physical security assessments, and coordinate research and collect data.
MSBA President Santini notes the importance of continued advocacy and the critical role of judicial members in upholding the rule of law: “A judicial officer must be neutral, detached, and free from danger in dispensing justice in our state. The MSBA will continue with the judiciary to participate in the new legislative task force, which shares this goal.”
MSBA’s advocacy protects the legal profession and preserves the integrity of the judicial system. Everyone who walks through courthouses every day must be able to present cases and issue decisions without fear. Judges must be safe from physical violence and threats in their homes and courts.