Supreme Court Marshal implores Maryland Governor for an end to protests outside of justices’ homes

U.S. Supreme Court Marshall Gail A. Curley wrote letters to Maryland officials, including Governor. Larry Hogan (Republican-MD), has written letters to Maryland authorities, including Gov.

In her Friday letter to Hogan, obtained by Fox News, the marshal cites state and county laws that make picketing outside of the justices’ homes illegal. She first references Maryland Criminal Code Law SS 3-904 (c), which states that “[a] person may not intentionally assemble with another in a manner that disrupts a person’s right to tranquility in the person’s home.” Marshal Curley noted that “[t]he statute provides for imprisonment for up to 90 days or a $100 fine or both.”

NEW: #SCOTUS Marshal sends letters to MD authorities, asking for full enforcement of state/local laws banning picketing outside Justices’ homes. pic.twitter.com/pRGRXknL1F

— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) July 2, 2022

Curley also mentioned a Montgomery County statute that “[a] person, or group of people must not picket next to or in front of any private residence.” Curley also noted that “‘[picketing” means “to place a person (or persons) at a specific location to transmit a message,” and cited the law. Curley cited the ordinance, which states that while protestors may pass a residence, they cannot stop at any particular private residence.”

Conservative justices have been subjected to protests outside of their homes since the unprecedented Supreme Court leak of a Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization draft decision in May, which indicated Roe v. Wade might be overruled. On June 24, the official decision came down from the court that did in fact overturn the longstanding Roe decision and made abortion an issue for state legislators to decide. On the heels of this decision, protests have been ongoing outside justices’ houses.

Curley referred to the same laws in a letter to Marc Elrich of Montgomery County.

While speaking to Hogan she mentioned that Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) in a May 11 letter that he was “deeply concerned” over the protests outside justices’ homes. The threats and demonstrations have only gotten worse:

Protest activity against Justices’ houses, along with threatening activities, have only increased since then. Large groups of demonstrators have been chanting slogans and beating drums at Justices’ houses in Maryland for weeks. Earlier this week, for example, 75 protestors loudly picketed at one Justice’s home in Maryland for 20-30 minutes in the evening, then proceeded to picket at another Justice’s home for 30 minuets, where the crowd grew to 100, and finally returned to the first Justice’s home to picket for another 20 minutes. These are exactly the types of behavior that Maryland and Montgomery County law prohibit.

On the 8th of June, Nicholas John Roske was taken into custody near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s Maryland residence for planning to kill him. “Police and court documents say that Roske had in his possession a Glock-17 pistol, a tactical knife, pepper spray, zip ties, and a crowbar,” Breitbart News noted.

Curley pointed out that the same day, Hogan issued a press release in which he expressed, “It is vital to our constitutional system that the justices be able to carry out their duties without fear of violence against them and their families.”

“Maryland laws and Montgomery County laws are the best tools for preventing picketing at Justices’ houses, and should be applied immediately,” she said.

Curley’s calls come as President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice continues to ignore a federal statute that prohibits “protests outside the homes of judges,” as Breitbart News reported.

The case is Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, No. 19-1392 in the Supreme Court of the United States.

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