Increasing court security concerns restrict some activities, Justice Thomas says

Heightened security concerns for U.S. Supreme Court justices have increased restrictions on movement and participation in activities. Justice Clarence Thomas said security conditions have changed significantly since he first became a circuit justice, making situations “dicey.” He said these concerns limit his ability to move around as much as before and have prevented him from attending personal pursuits, including college football games. He also noted that an in-person appearance at American University in Washington, D.C., was switched to a remote format due to security concerns. The restrictions reflect a broader shift toward tighter security measures affecting both daily routines and public engagements.

"“The security concerns now are much different from the way they were when I first became a circuit justice. That's really one of the big changes since I've been on the court-that it's become very, very dicey,” Thomas said Thursday, according to CNN."

"“And as I said, because of the security concerns, I'm not able to move around as much as I used to,” the most senior associate justice and a member of the high court's conservative wing lamented."

"Thomas said the changes have kept him from personal pursuits too, including attending college football games."

"Thomas said something similar earlier this year, when an in-person event at the American University in Washington, D.C., was switched to a remote appearance because of security concerns, according to the article."

Read at ABA Journal