Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and current Chief Justice John Roberts have both expressed deep concerns over the increasingly hostile political rhetoric directed at judges in the United States. Kennedy warned that the tone of political discourse, marked by fractious rhetoric and identity politics, is damaging the judiciary's role and putting democracy and freedom at risk. He emphasized the need to protect judges and their families from threats amid a rise in hostility. Chief Justice Roberts echoed these concerns, cautioning that heated political attacks on judges, including those by elected officials, can lead to threats or acts of violence. Roberts urged politicians on both sides to avoid aggressive language targeting the judiciary and encouraged the public to use judicial and legislative processes to address disagreements with court decisions. Both justices highlighted the critical role of the judiciary in maintaining democratic norms and the dangers posed by escalating attacks against judges. Roberts' warnings have been interpreted by some as a veiled critique of former President Donald Trump's verbal attacks on the judiciary, though Roberts stressed that the issue transcends partisan lines.