The US Justice Department said on Wednesday that it was stepping up security for members of the US Supreme Court ahead of an anticipated ruling by the high court that could scale back abortion rights, Reuters reported.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has directed the US Marshals Service to provide additional support to the court's existing police force, the Justice Department said. It did not provide further details.
Abortion-rights supporters have held protests outside the homes of at least three conservative members of the court since the leak of a draft opinion suggesting the court is preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that enshrined the right to abortion.
Protesters have also rallied outside the court building itself since the leak was published by Politico two weeks ago.
US Supreme Court President Justice John Roberts later confirmed the authenticity of the document that was leaked to Politico.
Roberts added that he has ordered an investigation into the leak, and noted that the draft opinion "does not represent" the Court's final position.