What Happens if You Threaten a Judge in Court?

 Posted on February 12, 2025 in Federal Crimes

Threatening a judge in court is a serious crime, and in many cases, it is a federal crime. Whether the threat is made in person, in writing, or on the internet, the consequences can be severe. This is true even if the person making the threat just lost control and had an angry outburst in court – even if that person truly did not really mean the threat.

Federal law protects judges, prosecutors, and other government officials from threats, intimidation, and retaliation. If you are facing federal charges for threatening a judge, talk to a Chicago, IL federal criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

Are There Federal Laws Against Threatening a Judge?

It is a federal crime to threaten a federal judge, prosecutor, police officer, and certain other government employees. The law makes it illegal to threaten, assault, or harm these officials in an attempt to interfere with their duties or in an effort to retaliate against them.

You can be charged under federal law even if you do not act on the threat. Simply making a threat — whether you do it in court, in writing, through email, or on social media — can lead to serious charges. If you are convicted, the punishment will depend on what exactly you said, but a threat alone can result in up to six years in federal prison. If the threat involves physical assault, such as throwing something at a judge or assaulting a judge outside of the courtroom or the judge’s home, the maximum sentence increases to 20 years. If the threat involves kidnapping or murder, you could face life in prison or even the death penalty in extreme cases.

Can Threatening a State or Local Judge Be a Federal Crime?

Even threatening a state or local judge can still be charged as a federal crime under certain circumstances. Federal law applies if the threat is made across state lines through certain types of communication means (such as phone calls, emails, or social media), or if it interferes with the administration of justice. That leaves a pretty wide variety of behaviors open to interpretation as a federal crime, which means you could be facing serious trouble for a tweet or a text even if you meant it as a joke.

What to Do If You Are Accused of Threatening a Judge

If you have been accused of making a threat against a judge, do not talk to police or investigators without an attorney there with you. Federal investigators take these cases very seriously, and anything you say can be used against you. A Chicago federal criminal defense attorney needs to review the evidence, determine whether the prosecution has a strong case, and fight to protect your rights if you have any hope of reducing or beating these charges.

In some cases, we may be able to argue that the threat was not serious, was taken out of context, or did not meet the legal definition of a criminal threat. Prosecutors must prove that the statement was a true threat rather than an offhand remark or emotional outburst, so your best bet is to stay quiet and let your attorney handle things moving forward.

Contact a Chicago, IL Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are facing federal charges for threatening a judge, you need a great lawyer, right now. A top-notch Illinois federal criminal defense attorney at Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel LLC, Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney can help build a strong defense and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. Call us at 312-629-0669 today for a free consultation