Pro-abortion protesters who have been gathering outside the homes of U.S. Supreme Court justices have been put on notice that they might be guilty of an infraction similar to one with which some Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol protesters have been charged.
Over the weekend, pro-abortion activists infested the streets, sidewalks and yards of the private residences of several justices — including Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh — in protest over the leaked Supreme Court draft decision that, if confirmed, would overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion.
The group Ruth Sent Us has planned another protest targeting justices’ homes on Wednesday.
The demonstrations so alarmed officials that the author of the draft decision, Justice Samuel Alito, was moved to an undisclosed location along with his family to keep them safe in the face of death threats from leftists.
Many, though, are pointing out that there is a federal law on the books that outlaws protests like these designed to interfere with, obstruct or impede the administration of justice.
18 U.S.C. § 1507 prohibits attempts to intimidate judges into changing their rulings.
The statute reads: “Whoever, with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing any judge, juror, witness, or court officer, in the discharge of his duty, pickets or parades in or near a building housing a court of the United States, or in or near a building or residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, or court officer, or with such intent uses any sound-truck or similar device or resorts to any other demonstration in or near any such building or residence, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”
The law could not be more clear.