Breaking News: In a sobering and unusually personal set of remarks, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas — the second-longest serving justice in the history of the court — told a Florida judicial conference Thursday that the security environment surrounding the Supreme Court has become "very, very dicey," restricting his ability to attend public events and move freely in ways unthinkable when he joined the bench in 1991.
What Happened
Justice Clarence Thomas lamented the heightened security that has become necessary for members of the Supreme Court, telling an audience outside Miami on Thursday that it is now far more difficult for him to take part in activities outside the courthouse. The observation, which he repeatedly returned to, came as the court has sought millions of dollars in additional security funding from Congress amid increasing physical and cyber threats aimed at the judiciary.
Key Details
Thomas's Own Words. "The security concerns now are much different from the way they were when I first became a circuit justice," Thomas told the 11th Circuit judicial conference. "That's really one of the big changes since I've been on the court — that it's become very, very dicey."
The Personal Cost. Thomas said security threats have restricted his movements and affected his ability to attend public events. "Because of the security concerns, I'm not able to move around as much as I used to," he said. He has had to skip events and weigh every appearance against the security risk — not just for himself but for everyone around him.
The Kavanaugh Incident That Changed Everything. Security concerns escalated sharply in 2022 when an armed man was arrested near the Maryland home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh following the leak of a draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. Congress subsequently passed legislation extending security protections to the immediate families of Supreme Court justices.
The Nationwide Pattern. Judges at every level of the legal system have reported increased hostility — especially in cases involving abortion, elections, immigration, and executive authority. Threats against federal judges have increased nationwide, prompting expanded protection from the U.S. Marshals Service and calls for more congressional funding.
Who Interviewed Thomas. Thomas, 77, was interviewed at the event by Kasdin Mitchell, a former clerk whom Trump recently nominated for a federal judgeship in Texas. Mitchell repeatedly noted Thomas's longevity. Thomas now serves longer than all but one justice in court history — and on current trajectory would claim the top spot outright in 2028. Thomas pushed back with dry humor each time his tenure was mentioned.
The Lighter Moments. Thomas's remarks were mostly relaxed. He spoke about missing former colleagues, the significance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and his love of barbecue — pulled pork, specifically. His remarks were notably less acerbic than two years ago, when at the same conference he called Washington "a hideous place."
Why It Matters
The Supreme Court was designed to be insulated from political pressure by lifetime appointments — so justices could make unpopular decisions without fear. That vision was never designed to account for a world where justices fear for their physical safety every time they leave the courthouse.
Thomas's remarks are not abstract. They are the words of a 77-year-old man who has watched the institution he joined in 1991 become a place where the people inside it are not safe to move freely in their own country. That is a statement about the state of American democracy that deserves to be heard.
Latest Updates
✅ Thomas speaks at 11th Circuit judicial conference in Aventura, Florida
✅ Describes security environment as "very, very dicey" — returns to phrase multiple times
✅ Confirms he can no longer move around freely due to threats
🔴 Supreme Court seeking millions in additional security funding from Congress
🔴 Threats against federal judges increasing nationwide
✅ Thomas, 77, now second-longest serving justice in Supreme Court history
🔴 Thomas would become longest-serving justice in history by 2028
🔴 No indication of any retirement plans
Conclusion
Clarence Thomas has served for 35 years and decided cases that reshaped American law. And on Thursday, he described what that career has cost him in the most human terms: he can no longer go where he wants to go, because going there might get him killed.
The Supreme Court is seeking more security funding. Congress should give it to them.
Stay with us for continuing coverage of judicial security and Supreme Court developments.
FAQ
Q1: What did Thomas say about
Supreme Court security?
Thomas said the security environment
has become "very, very dicey" — a phrase
he returned to more than once. He said
he can no longer move around freely
and has had to skip public events
because of safety concerns. The court
is seeking millions in additional
congressional security funding.
Q2: What triggered the increase
in threats against justices?
Threats have increased dramatically due
to politically charged rulings and rising
polarization. The most concrete incident
was the 2022 attempted assassination
of Justice Kavanaugh outside his home
following the Roe v. Wade leak. Congress
subsequently extended security protections
to justices' immediate family members.
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