On the night of May 27, 2026, an apparent swatting incident targeted the home of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, according to police in Fairfax County, Virginia. The police received a call through the nonemergency line shortly after 9 p.m. ET, reporting gunshots at Barrett's residence. Officers coordinated with Supreme Court Police and quickly determined the report was fictitious, with no additional police resources needed.
A recording of the police dispatch indicated that the caller, who claimed to be a neighbor, reported hearing gunshots. The dispatcher noted uncertainty about whether it was a swatting situation, as Barrett's home has 24-hour security.
Swatting involves making false emergency calls to provoke a police response, often to intimidate or harass the target. Barrett and her family have previously faced threats, including a bomb threat directed at her sister in March 2025. Other justices have also experienced threats, with Chief Justice John Roberts reporting a tripling of threats against judges over the past decade. The U.S. Marshals Service recorded 564 threats against judges in fiscal year 2025.
