We come from different corners of the legal world: one of us a trial lawyer in Los Angeles, the other a federal judge in New Jersey. But we’ve both reached the same conclusion: The legal system in the United States is under attack, literally and figuratively. And if we don’t speak out now, we may lose the very institution that holds democracy together.
That’s why we created Speak Up for Justice, a national forum taking place Tuesday. It’s not a conference. It’s a line in the sand.
We have both experienced the fear and vulnerability that comes with doing our work in this increasingly hostile climate.
Political violence has becoming alarmingly frequent in recent years, with the arson at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence this weekend just the latest example. The legal system has not been spared. For years, we’ve watched as threats against judges and attorneys became more common and more dangerous. Court rulings are dismissed as partisan. Law firms are harassed for doing their jobs. Judges are vilified and, in some cases, targeted with violence. We have both experienced the fear and vulnerability that comes with doing our work in this increasingly hostile climate.
In 2020, Esther’s son, Daniel, was murdered by a man who came to their home with a gun, looking for her. The killer was enraged by the idea that judges could rule independently and wanted to send a message. That message cost Daniel his life.
We wish we could say that was the last time judges were personally threatened. But it wasn’t.
Just this month, pizzas have been sent to judges’ homes across the country with the message “I know where you live.” Some recipients were the children of judges. In a horrifying twist, some of these deliveries were ordered using Daniel’s name. It’s not just cruelty, but its also calculated intimidation.
These are not isolated events. They are part of a broader pattern of fear-based tactics aimed at silencing legal professionals and undermining the independence of the courts. And they’re working: many in the legal community are afraid to speak up.
We understand that fear. We’ve lived it. But if we let it silence us, we risk losing far more than our voices — we risk losing the very foundation of justice in this country.
We know the legal system isn’t perfect. We both work inside it every day and we’ve seen its flaws. But we’ve also seen the good it can do.
Speak Up for Justice was born from that urgency. We wanted to create a space in which judges, lawyers, advocates and everyday citizens could come together and say: Enough. Enough with the threats. Enough with the harassment. Enough with letting fear dictate how justice is carried out. The rule of law still matters.
We know the legal system isn’t perfect. We both work inside it every day and we’ve seen its flaws. But we’ve also seen the good it can do. When it functions freely and fairly, the legal system protects the most vulnerable, resolves disputes peacefully and keeps power in check. That only works if people believe that the courts are independent and that legal professionals can do their jobs without fearing for their lives — or their children’s lives.
We’re not asking for praise. We’re asking for protection. We’re asking for acknowledgment that legal professionals shouldn’t be collateral damage in ideological or political battles. Most of all, we’re asking for people to care. This is not just about judges and lawyers. It’s about whether we as a nation still believe in justice — not as a buzzword, but as a process that must be defended and made accessible to all. If you care about democracy, if you care about fairness, if you care about the kind of country we’re leaving for the next generation — then we ask you to stand with us. Share our message. And commit to pushing back against the normalization of intimidation and violence in our legal system. We didn’t want to create this event. We needed to. And we need you, too.
Paul R. Kiesel
Paul R. Kiesel is a trial attorney in Los Angeles and a co-founder of Speak Up for Justice, a national forum to defend the courts and the rule of law.
Judge Esther Salas
Judge Esther Salas is a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of New Jersey, a national advocate for judicial safety and a co-founder of Speak Up for Justice, a national forum to defend the courts and the rule of law. 
