WASHINGTON -- Threats against feder...

WASHINGTON -- Threats against federal justices are on a record- setting pace this year, nearly 18 month after the family of connoisseur Joan Lefkow was killed in Chicago.

U marshals, who fortify the nation's 2,200 federal justices believe they averted another potential tragedy in the Midwest last year when they helped brace release of a prison inmate who told a arbiter in a series of sexually charged literal senses that he was going to take her away.

Threats and inappropriate communications have quadrupled through 10 years ago. There were 201 like incidents reported in the 1996 conduct spending year and 943 in the year that lasted Sept. 30, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

This year alone, the Marshals Service has had 822 reports of inappropriate communications and threats, a pace that would top 1000 for the year.

Marshals say a portion of the increase can be attributed to a heightened focus by way of judges and their staffs.

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