Hogan, Youngkin press DOJ for security at Supreme Court justices homes after abortion opinion leak

The governors of Maryland and Virginia are calling on the Justice Department to provide security at the homes of Supreme Court justices who live in their states after abortion-rights activists marched in their neighborhoods to protest a leaked opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday citing federal law that bars picketing and parading near a judge’s home “with the intent of influencing any judge.”

“While protesting a final opinion from the Supreme Court is commonplace when done on the steps of the court or in the public square, the circumstances of the current picketing at the Justices’ private homes in residential neighborhoods are markedly different,” the Republican governors wrote.

Abortion rights protests: Republicans hit Democrats over Roe protests at justices' homes, calling them 'mob rule'

Abortion rights demonstrations started outside the court almost as soon as a draft opinion overturning the longstanding precedent leaked last week. But over the weekend, protests spread to the homes of conservative justices the leaked opinion shows siding with the majority.

About 100 protesters demonstrated outside the homes of Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh last weekend, according to a group that organized the protests. On Monday, the same group gathered outside the home of Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

The group ShutDownDC said on its website that it was protesting outside Alito’s home because it couldn’t reach him at the court and because of new fencing erected around the Supreme Court.

Protests spill over: Abortion rights protests that started at Supreme Court steps move to justices' front doorsteps

Hogan, Youngkin ask DOJ to 'take the lead' to protect justices

The governors’ letter said their state law enforcement leaders were working with federal and local officials “to provide threat analysis and assessment updates, draft operational security plans, and ensure consistent lines of communication.”

But they wrote that it was up to federal law enforcement entities to “take the lead and provide sustained resources to protect the justices and ensure these residential areas are secure in the weeks and months ahead.”

The court has declined to say how security has changed in light of the leaked opinion, but the Supreme Court Marshal is in charge of security when the justices are in Washington.

Abortion draft opinion fallout: Could rights to same-sex marriage, contraception be next?

Just before Hogan and Youngkin publicized their letter on Wednesday, a Justice Department spokesman said in a prepared statement that Garland was being briefed on security at the court and for the nine justices.

“The attorney general directed the U.S. Marshals Service to help ensure the Justices' safety by providing additional support to the Marshal of the Supreme Court and Supreme Court Police,” spokesman Anthony Coley said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court leak: Hogan, Youngkin press DOJ on justices' security