Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Marc J. Zucker issued the following statement condemning a growing number of violent acts directed at attorneys and members of the judiciary.
“In recent years, amid rising extremism directed at our democratic institutions, threats and violent attacks against attorneys and members of the judiciary have increased significantly. From threats against Supreme Court justices to the 2020 murder of the son of a federal judge in New Jersey to the appalling attack last week on our friend, colleague and former chancellor Gaetan Alfano, these incidents all demonstrate a blatant contempt for both human life and the rule of law.
“Our system of justice must be able to function without fear of threats and violence directed at individual judges, attorneys and their family members, calculated to intimidate, silence and halt our critical work.. Just as Congress has acted to increase the security of federal judges, we call for corresponding attention to the security needs of judges and legal professionals at the state and local levels as well. We wish Gaetan a speedy recovery and resolve to advance efforts to ensure that this tragic incident will lead to a safer and more civil climate for our profession and our community as a whole.”
