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Jimmy Williams
A Florida man, Neal Brij Sidhwaney, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to threatening to kill Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales in Jacksonville, Florida.
Sidhwaney, 43, had left a profanity-laced voicemail threatening Roberts, stating, “I will f—— kill you,” during a call placed to the Supreme Court on July 21. Although Roberts was referred to as “Victim 1” in the indictment, a court-ordered psychological evaluation later identified him as the target of the threat.
The evaluation, which revealed Sidhwaney’s struggles with delusional disorder and psychosis, noted that he exhibited a paranoid belief system, particularly triggered by watching the news. Despite his mental health issues, the psychologist concluded that Sidhwaney was competent to stand trial.
Sidhwaney pleaded guilty to transmitting an interstate threat to kill, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of five years. His court-appointed public defense lawyer, Kathryn Sheldon, declined to comment on the case.
Threats against federal judges, including those at the U.S. Supreme Court, have been on the rise, prompting increased security measures. In fiscal year 2023, serious threats against federal judges nearly doubled compared to fiscal 2021, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
This incident follows a previous case in which an armed individual was charged with attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The rise in threats has led to concerns about the safety of justices and calls for enhanced security measures.
