Law professor James Sample sounded the alarm Thursday over a surge in death threats aimed at public servants, particularly judges, and their families. During an appearance on MSNBC, he described the trend as “bad for humanity” and “dangerous for democracy.”

“Let’s start with some very simple propositions. Death threats are bad, right? Death threats against public servants are bad. You know, in New Jersey, the New Jersey passed a law a couple of years ago known as Daniel’s Law, named for the judge, named for the son of Judge Esther Salas, who was assassinated when he came to the door to answer the doorbell, and a disgruntled litigant looking for Judge Salas murdered him,” he said.

Sample continued: “This is threats against the families and of public servants and the public servants themselves. It’s bad for humanity, it’s bad for democracy. And it is a growing and serious concern that I think has a real source.”

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Sample noted that these threats are becoming more common than they used to be.

“And one of the starting points, one of the points of departure, is a president who is consistently referring to a ‘radical left wing lunatics, communist judges, individuals who are crooked lunatics.’”

He added: “When we normalize that kind of rhetoric and it comes straight from the top, should we be shocked that some people resort to the very extreme and the worst possible ends? I think not. I mean, it’s terrible, it’s unspeakable, but it also has some solutions. And one of the solutions is the protection of these public servants’ privacy.”

Watch the video below or at this link.

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