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South Carolina judge’s home destroyed by fire amid rising threats against judiciary
The home of South Carolina judge Diane Goodstein, 69, was destroyed in a fire over the weekend, amid escalating threats against members of the U.S. judiciary. The cause of the blaze remains undetermined, but the incident has intensified concerns about the growing hostility targeting judges nationwide.
The fire broke out on October 4 at the Goodstein residence in Edisto Beach, South Carolina, according to The New York Post. Judge Goodstein’s husband, former Democratic state senator Arnold Goodstein, was seriously injured after leaping from the first floor to escape the flames. He suffered multiple fractures to his hips, legs, and feet. Their son, Arnold Goodstein II, was also hospitalized with severe injuries. In total, three people were transported to nearby hospitals. The judge was not at home at the time, as she was walking her dogs along the beach.
The Saint Paul Fire District reported on Facebook that rescuers had to reach the victims using kayaks after they jumped into a nearby marsh to escape the burning structure. One of the occupants was later airlifted for emergency care.
Mounting threats and political hostility
Judge Goodstein had reportedly been receiving death threats for several weeks prior to the fire. The situation has raised suspicions of a targeted attack, especially after White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote on X about what he described as a “far-left terrorist movement” allegedly protected by “radical Democratic judges and prosecutors.”
Diane Goodstein, who has served as a judge since 1998, has long been known for her judicial independence and steady record. The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has launched an investigation to determine whether the fire was criminally motivated.
An increasingly dangerous climate for U.S. judges
Threats against judges have surged since Donald Trump’s return to power in January. Earlier this year, Elon Musk then head of the Ministry of Government Efficiency, accused U.S. judges on X of being “corrupt” and “radical,” claiming they embodied a “tyranny of justice.” Reuters reported in March that threats against judges had reached “unusually high” levels, with many federal judges speaking publicly about fear for their safety.
The Federal Judges Association, the largest organization representing U.S. judges, has expressed alarm at the rise in verbal assaults, disinformation, and intimidation. In late September, the national online forum Speak Up for Justice featured testimonies from judges recounting threats, harassment, and even a deepfake video depicting a judge’s simulated murder.
The attack on Judge Goodstein’s home underscores a growing pattern of danger confronting the judiciary, as political polarization and online hostility continue to erode respect for judicial authority in the United States.
