US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said growing threats against the judiciary have made it harder for justices to participate in public life.

Speaking at a legal conference in Florida on Thursday, Thomas said security concerns around the Supreme Court had worsened significantly during his time on the bench.

“The security concerns now are much different from the way they were when I first became a circuit justice,” Thomas told attendees, according to CNN.

“That’s really one of the big changes since I’ve been on the court — that it’s become very, very dicey.”

Thomas said increased threats have restricted his movements outside the courthouse and affected his ability to attend public events.

“And as I said, because of the security concerns, I’m not able to move around as much as I used to,” he added.

The remarks come as the Supreme Court of the United States seeks additional security funding from Congress following a rise in physical and cyber threats targeting judges and prosecutors.

Concerns over judicial safety intensified in 2022 after an armed man was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home following the leak of the Roe v Wade draft ruling.