Chief Judges Ramp Up Efforts to Bolster Security as Threats Rise

US District Judge Patrick Schiltz has pushed the emergency button summoning more security to his Minnesota courtroom twice in recent months after defendants’ family members became unruly during sentencing hearings.

That’s something Schiltz never had to do before in his nearly 18 years as a judge. And it’s not just inside his courtroom that’s getting more dangerous: his Minneapolis courthouse’s list of banned people “is probably as long as it’s ever been,” Schiltz said.

As chief judge, Schiltz has to think about judges’ security both inside and beyond the courthouse, pushing him into an unfamiliar role as advocate and lobbyist ...