It’s springtime in New England. The birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing — and the alarm bells are ringing at your local courthouse. So far this year, nine bomb threats have been made against the Connecticut judicial facilities.

The telephoned threats aggravate judicial employees, attorneys and private litigants alike. State courthouses in Ansonia, Hartford, Milford, New Haven, Stamford, Tolland and Waterbury have been affected in 2013. Each of the incidents was investigated by State Police and no bombs were discovered.