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| July/August 2025 | BAEC Bulletin
BAEC Bulletin | July/August 2025 |
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ESCALATING THREATS AGAINST JUDGES MUST STOP BY JEFFREY FREEDMAN, JEFFREY FREEDMAN ATTORNEYS, PLLC. It used to be unless you
Having graduated from UB Law School in 1983 at the tender age of 58, Tom briefly joined the Erie County District Attorney’s Office before hanging up his shingle at a building he owned on Bailey Avenue. He never advertised. One day a client walked in and asked if Tom would sue another lawyer. “Sure,” Tom said. Apparently, it was a dispute involving $6,000. “I wrote a letter and put together a summons and complaint and thought I was really something. Well, the lawyer got my letter, called me up and said, ‘Tom, how much do you need?’ I said $6 grand. He said, ‘Fine, I’ll send you a check.’ The client thought I was a genius. He sent me a lot of clients after that.” Back at the surprise birthday party, Tom was entertained with songs by Tim Franczyk and Stuart Shapiro, accompanied by Jack Freedenberg on piano. He was regaled with stories and poems by Rod Quebral and yours truly. Sharon Stern Gerstman and Lynn Clarke revised a Gallagher and Sheehan routine that Tom and the inimitable Morrie Mesch used to perform at the Bar Revue. Judge Frank Caruso was the master of ceremonies. Then it was Tom’s turn to entertain. Tom’s son, Tommie Jr., a nationally renowned jazz guitarist, producer, and composer, sent a recording of a song he made with his father 20 years ago. Tommie Jr. had recorded it with an orchestra and had emailed his father’s vocal track to himself. Years later, the rest of the recording was destroyed in the Eaton fire that burnt down Tommie’s home, as well as virtually every home and business near
him. His father’s track was saved. Tommie recorded a guitar track over the vocals and allowed us to play it for the party. It was impeccable. Tom joined Lynn Clarke, herself a professional vocalist with whom he had previously collaborated, in a lovely rendition Embraceable You. Then he took the mic to describe how he got to 100 years: “Everything in my life has been lucky. Right place, right time.” But one can’t help being reminded of a quote from golf great, Gary Player, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” Tom lives alone now; his beloved Jini passed away last year after their 75th anniversary. His daughter “Jini Jr.” takes care of him. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has ended Tom’s bass playing days. But around midnight most nights, Tom sits in front of his piano and uses his few good fingers to play for about 20 minutes, and those moments are sublime. Immediately before the surprise party, Tom had been at the DMV to renew his license. They gave him a license for the next eight years. Long may you run, Tom. Long may you run. Tom Rizzo’s 100 years old Still practicing, God bless his soul His secret, it seems is follow your dreams And be born with a true heart of gold.
doing,” justify threatening activity for people who have had negative experiences with the courts. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D), House Judiciary Committee, said “Judicial independence is essential to constitutional democracy, and judicial independence is in danger if judges aren’t safe.” The Marshals Service needs increased funds to protect judges, courthouse security, and improve measures to keep judges’ home addresses from public access. These threats speak to the decline of respect for our constitution, and for those who have dedicated their lives to be knowledgeable upholders of the laws. We must tone down rhetoric attacking judges and return to an acceptable level of public discourse. As retired Pennsylvania federal chief judge John Jones said, “Regardless of our disagreement with individual judges’ decisions, it’s unconscionable and intolerable to make any kinds of threats against judges.” Jeffrey M. Freedman is managing attorney at Jeffrey Freedman Attorneys, PLLC, which has helped more than 50,000 clients since 1980. The firm serves SSD, SSI and VA disability clients nationwide.
were military, a police officer or President it was unlikely you put yourself or your family at risk when you chose your profession. Today, federal and state judges face threats against their lives and family members’ lives every day. In July 2020, Daniel
Anderl, son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, was killed protecting his parents from a disgruntled lawyer posing as a delivery person. Anderl was 20 years old. Since Jan 1, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service, which protects judges and courthouses, investigated 373 threats to judges (the data doesn’t define between threats to state or federal judges). More than 100 anonymous, unsolicited pizza deliveries have been made to judges’ homes, indicating individuals who are unhappy with rulings know where judges’ live. Judges’ personal and family lives, and mental health, have been affected by threats and actual events including Anderl’s death and, in 2022, the arrest of an armed man at Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh’s home. The man said he planned to assassinate the justice due to the repeal of abortion rights. While presiding over Trump’s civil fraud case, NY State Judge Arthur Engoron received threats from Tyler Vogel, stating he would “go after” the judge if Trump were jailed. Supreme Court justices now have round-the-clock security at home, and Marshals are monitoring hostile online postings. Fifty individuals were charged with making online threats between 2019 and 2024, said Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. Safety concerns started when Roe v. Wade was overturned, and dangers spiraled with lawsuits against Trump, and executive orders that challenge the constitution. Trump and his supporters’ social media posts and verbal attacks fuel the escalation of threats. Truth Social posts such as: “Judges are absolutely out of control, they’re hurting our Country, and they know nothing about particular situations, or what they are
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