“We need to recognize it’: Utah State Bar survey finds increase in direct threats towards legal practitioners

ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) — On Friday, the Utah State Bar presented a statewide survey on how often legal professionals face threats, intimidation or violence.

In 2006, the Utah State Bar conducted the first survey in the nation that examined threats and violences directed at members of a state legal profession. That survey found that 46% of respondents had receiving threats or violence in their career.

Now, two decades later, the Utah State Bar has conducted a similar study and presented the findings during a conference on March 13.

“For 2026, in the first two months. There have been 230 investigations of 176 threats on 151 different judges,” said Stephen Kelson, one of the main researchers behind the 2006 and 2026 survey.

The survey results indicated that there has been a drop in threats made online or through inappropriate communications, but there has been a significant increase in direct threats, according to Kelson.

He added that, since 2023, there have been over 100 threats to Utah courts, six swatting incidents, an incident in which private information was ‘doxxed’ or released publicly, and a security breach.

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“There are threats that are taking place with our Utah courts and there have been, just in the last couple days, this [survey] doesn’t include those,” Kelson continued. “The point being is that while the Utah profession has not suffered a life taking event in many years, it doesn’t mean that threats and violence just aren’t frequently occurring.”

According to Kelson, legal practitioners in family law, criminal prosecution, and criminal defense typically see the highest number of violent threats. However, members of every legal practice reported receiving violent threats.

Kelson says public trust in legal professionals has decreased significantly, which could be a factor in the increase in threats. He said, “The legal profession, including the judiciary…over the last 20, 25 years, has been considered in low regard…Also, politics appears to be having an effect.”

Based on survey results, 5% of Utah’s legal professionals have definitively been on the receiving end of threats of violence or actual violence, though Kelson says that number could be higher, because only about 12% of all legal professionals in Utah responded to the survey.

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Additionally, some practitioners may brush off threats or don’t report them to avoid potential controversy. Kelson said, “An issue that comes up with threats and violence in the legal profession is that it’s not talked about…and it generally comes down to that, one, you don’t want that out there. There’s a fear or a concern that you don’t want to be that practitioner, because maybe it has a stigma to it.”

At the conclusion of his presentation, Kelson asked who in the audience had received threats, by a raise of hands. While not everybody raised their hands, nearly two dozen individuals did, including Kelson.

While investigating and prosecuting threats is up to law enforcement, Kelson says the legal field needs to acknowledge the potential danger that their professionals face.

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“We need to recognize it. It is affecting attorneys’ well-being here in the state of Utah. And as well, if it’s affecting the well-being, it means it’s affecting the practice, how attorneys are performing their jobs, which means it can have a direct effect upon the access to justice for the public,” he said.

Elizabeth Wright, the executive director of the Utah State Bar, added, “We want judges to be able to make decisions based on the law and facts in front of them and not be worried. that if they rule a certain way or rule against certain individuals that their family can be threatened.”

“So, the recommendation is going to be in regard to we need to educate our legal community of how to address this, prepare themselves, and so they can avoid the threats and violence and make sure it’s not going to happen to them,” Kelson continued. “it’s going to be through training and also to look at to help them be self-aware and recognize if there’s a real threat what can they do to protect themselves and those around them.”

Joseph DeGolyer contributed to this article.

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