The U.S. Marshals Service Director Benigno G. Reyna resigned last week. High-profile attacks on federal judges and in courthouses had raised questions about whether the Marshals Service had been adequately protecting the judiciary. Judges had been complaining for some time about lack of responsiveness to threats on their safety. A year and a half ago, I can't find the link, the Marshals Service intelligence squad was criticized for not having its act together. Mr. Reyna had been a small city police chief in Texas and this role may not have been right for him - he also may not have had the necessary resources. But there may have also been systemic problems. The glamour role of the Marshals Service is hunting down fugitives (think of Tommy Lee Jones in "The Fugitive"). However the judiciary needs protection. Judges and courthouses are symbolic targets. They, along with witnesses, can also be practical targets in efforts to disrupt legal procedures. It may be worth considering splitting these roles so that smaller agencies can focus on their important niche functions.