Former Justices to Get Protections Under Defense Policy Bill

Former Supreme Court justices could start receiving security protections from the high court under an annual defense policy bill.

The negotiated text of the National Defense Authorization Act, released Sunday, would give the Marshal of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Police the authority to protect former members of the court and their immediate relatives if “such protection is necessary.”

This extended authority plan comes as threats against judges have increased in recent years, and as lawmakers have sought to bump up security funds for justices. Versions of judiciary appropriations bills released by the House and Senate earlier this ...