Justice Amy Coney Barrett mocks pro-abortion protesters for picketing her home - drawing wild applause at first Federalist Society dinner since Supreme Court tossed Roe v Wade

• Barrett received standing ovation at Federalist Society dinner Thursday in DC
• She joked it was nice to hear 'a lot of noise' that wasn't from protesters
• Demonstrators have picketed the homes of justices over June abortion ruling

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett was greeted with thunderous applause as she appeared the conservative Federalist Society on Thursday at its first annual convention since the court overturned a nationwide right to abortion.

'Thank you, it's really nice to have a lot of noise made that's not by protesters outside my house,' joked Barrett, referring to the frequent demonstrations over the court's June ruling that overturned Roe v Wade.

Barrett was part of the court's conservative supermajority that backed the controversial ruling, which drew intense protest from supporters of abortion rights, including noisy demonstrations outside of the homes of justices.

At the height of the furor, a California man with a handgun was arrested outside the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, after the suspect allegedly admitting he planned to kill the judge for backing the abortion ruling. 

The threat against Kavanaugh presaged a separate vicious attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband on October 28 in the Democrat's San Francisco home, which had also been the target of political protests.  

At Thursday's dinner, Barrett took a victory lap alongside Justice Samuel Alito, who also received a standing ovation.

Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch also received applause at the annual event of the Federalist Society. 

The Federalist Society has no partisan affiliation and takes no position in election campaigns, but it is closely aligned with Republican priorities. 

The legal group is one of the most influential in the country and its members have long criticized the 1973 Roe v Wade decision that had enshrined national legal protections for abortion.

The event was held in the main hall at Washington's Union Station, where the silhouette of James Madison, the group´s logo, was projected on the walls. 

Justice Clarence Thomas, the other member of the abortion case majority, was not at the dinner. 

Alito did not mention the abortion ruling or other aspects of the court's work during his brief remarks. 

But Stephen Markman, a former justice on the Michigan Supreme Court, said that if the ruling were forever associated with Alito, 'I do not know of any decision on any court by any judge of which that judge could be more proud.'

The comments were met by a standing ovation, with attendees turning to face toward Alito.

Barrett remarks were largely focused on honoring the late Judge Laurence Silberman, who served on D.C.'s federal appeals court and died last month. 

Her crack about protesters was her only mention of the abortion ruling at the dinner.

The rollback of abortion rights is believed to have had a significant role in the recent midterm elections, boosting Democrats who were otherwise struggling to muster enthusiasm in the face of President Joe Biden's low approval ratings.

Polls tend to find a majority of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with only a small segment supporting total bans.  

Thursday's dinner celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Federalist Society, which particularly has influence in Republican circles. 

Leonard Leo, a long-time conservative legal activist, while serving as a Federalist Society executive helped compile a list of potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees that former President Donald Trump drew from during his tenure.

Leo also spoke at the event, recalling that the first time he attended the convention's dinner, the group struggled to fill a hotel ballroom. 

'Our movement has grown by leaps and bounds, and so has our impact,' he said.