WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Division mentioned on Wednesday that it was stepping up safety for members of the U.S. Supreme Court docket forward of an anticipated ruling by the excessive court docket that would cut back abortion rights.

Lawyer Basic Merrick Garland has directed the U.S. Marshals Service to offer extra help to the court docket’s current police drive, the Justice Division mentioned. It didn’t present additional particulars.

Abortion-rights supporters have held protests outdoors the properties of at the very least three conservative members of the court docket because the leak of a draft opinion suggesting the court docket is getting ready to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 resolution that enshrined the fitting to abortion.

Protesters have additionally rallied outdoors the court docket constructing itself because the leak was printed by Politico two weeks in the past.

Justice Clarence Thomas, a member of the court docket’s 6-3 conservative majority, mentioned final week the court docket wouldn’t be “bullied.”

Polls present {that a} majority of Individuals help the fitting to abortion. A Reuters/Ipsos ballot this week discovered that fifty% of Individuals authorized of the court docket, down from 57% in December 2021.

The Marshals Service, with 5,400 staff, is chargeable for offering safety at federal courts.