Testimony of the Honorable Joan H. Lefkow, Senate Judiciary Committee, May 18, 2005 [discussing the need for increaed judicial security and condemning public attacks against judges by some commentators and politicians, claiming it fosters disrespect for the judiciary]. Excerpt:

I am the fourth judge since 1978 who has been the victim of assassination as a result of "the madness in the shadows of modern life" (I borrow that phrase from the note former President Clinton wrote to me); more specifically, as a direct result of a decision made in the course of fulfilling the judge's oath to do justice "without fear or favor." Among more than 1,000 letters of condolence my family has received are approximately 200 from judges, state and federal, each of whom knows in their heart, "This could have been me." Five assassinations (that includes 2 for me) in 25 years tells us that judges are particularly vulnerable. (For example, the last such tragedy within the Congress was in 1978 and on foreign soil) and that something is wrong in the judicial protection arena. (These numbers do not include attempts, such as the poisoning of a judge's wife).

Read the full text of the testimony here. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.