A man who served federal prison time for burglary pleaded guilty Tuesday to threatening the life of the Honolulu judge who sentenced him.

Julius Hudson pleaded guilty Tuesday threatening to assault and murder U.S. District Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway.

According a criminal complaint, Mollway sentenced Hudson to about two years in prison in 2002. After he was released, he began making harassing calls to Mollway.

In January, he made a phone call saying he was returning to Hawaii from Texas, the court documents said. In February, he made a phone call threatening to walk into her courtroom to rape her and "blow your … brains out Judge Mollway."

A federal judge from California is presiding over the case because Hudson’s federal defender, Alexander Silvert, asked all federal judges in Hawaii to recuse themselves.

Hudson, 54, stood in court Tuesday with chains around his feet, waist and hands. He didn’t speak in court, other than to answer "yes," to questions about his plea agreement. He said he agrees with a paragraph in the agreement that says he threatened Mollway "with intent to impede, intimidate or interfere" with her official duties, or to retaliate against her.

Silvert said outside the courtroom that his client has wanted to plead guilty and take responsibility for his actions.

He faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison when he’s sentenced in September.