A 40-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly threatening the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and a circuit court judge. The threats were discovered following several recent contacts with the man. A search warrant was obtained to arrest him for threatening to harm individuals involved in the court or legal system. The man is awaiting an initial court appearance. While the 1st Amendment protects freedom of speech, true threats of violence directed at specific individuals, especially public officials and judges, are not protected speech in Wisconsin.