It was supposed to be a weekend of celebration. July 19, 2020, marked the 20th birthday of Daniel Anderl, a student at Catholic University and the only child of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas and her husband, Mark Anderl. The family was at their home in North Brunswick, New Jersey. The vibe was "glorious"—full of laughter and the kind of ease you only get when the "Three Musketeers," as Salas called her family, were together.
Then the doorbell rang.
A man dressed as a FedEx delivery driver was standing on the porch. Daniel, being the person he was, went to open it. In a split second, a gunman opened fire. Daniel took a bullet directly to the chest. He was protecting his father, who was standing right behind him. Mark was shot three times. He survived, but Daniel—the "miracle baby" Salas had prayed for after multiple miscarriages—was gone.
Honestly, it’s the kind of story that stays with you because of how mundane the setting was and how targeted the violence felt. We’re talking about a federal judge’s home being turned into a crime scene because of a disgruntled lawyer with a grudge.
The Shooter and the Grudge
The man behind the trigger was Roy Den Hollander. He was 72, a self-described "anti-feminist" attorney who had appeared before Judge Salas in a 2015 case involving the military draft. He apparently hated her. But it wasn't just a professional disagreement; it was personal, vitriolic, and deeply rooted in a bizarre worldview.
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Hollander didn't just stumble upon their house. He spent years tracking them. He used open-source information—the kind of stuff you can find with a quick Google search or a few bucks on a data broker site—to find their home address, their church, and even Daniel’s baseball game schedule.
When investigators finally caught up with Hollander, it was too late for a trial. He was found dead in the Catskills from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In his rental car, the FBI found a manila folder. It didn't just have details on Salas. It had a "workup" on Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. It had names of oncologists, other judges, and medical doctors. He was a man with a list and terminal cancer, looking for what he called "justice" before he died.
Why Daniel Anderl’s Legacy Matters Now
You’ve probably heard of "Daniel’s Law" if you live in New Jersey or follow legal news. It’s not just a tribute; it’s a massive shift in how we handle privacy for public officials.
Judge Salas didn't just retreat into her grief. She became a powerhouse for change. She realized that her son died because it was too easy for a killer to find where they slept.
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In late 2022, President Biden signed the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act. This wasn't some minor administrative tweak. It’s a federal law that basically:
- Bars federal agencies and private companies from publicly sharing the personal info of federal judges and their families.
- Requires data brokers to stop selling their home addresses and phone numbers.
- Empowers judges to demand their data be scrubbed from the internet.
It’s about making sure that the "next Daniel" doesn't have to face a gunman on his front porch just because his mom is doing her job.
The Human Side of the Tragedy
Daniel wasn't just a name on a bill. He was a 20-year-old who loved baseball and was incredibly proud of his mom. During her confirmation hearing years earlier, a 10-year-old Daniel sat in the gallery, beaming. Senator Dianne Feinstein even pointed it out at the time, noting how proud he looked.
Salas has been very open about the struggle of going back to the bench. She keeps a black-and-white photo of Daniel in her office closet. She says seeing it sometimes feels like a "punch in the face." Imagine walking into the building where you work, knowing that the job you love is the reason your child is gone. That’s a level of strength most of us can’t even wrap our heads around.
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What has changed since 2020?
Things are different now, though the fight isn't over.
- Scholarships: There are now two endowed scholarships at Rutgers—the Daniel Anderl Memorial and the Judicial Protection Project scholarship.
- Danny’s Pantry: In the Newark courthouse, there’s a food pantry named after him that helps people in reentry programs.
- State Laws: Following New Jersey’s lead, several other states have passed their own versions of Daniel’s Law to protect state-level judges and law enforcement.
Actionable Steps for Privacy and Security
While the Daniel Anderl Act specifically protects judges, the reality is that everyone’s data is way too accessible online. If this story teaches us anything, it’s that "open-source information" is a double-edged sword.
How to tighten your own digital footprint:
- Audit your PII: Use tools to see which data brokers (like Whitepages or Spokeo) have your home address listed. Most have an "opt-out" process, though it’s a bit of a manual slog.
- Privacy Settings: Regularly check your social media settings. Ensure your "About" section doesn't list your exact location or family members' names to the public.
- Support Privacy Legislation: Keep an eye on local and federal bills regarding data brokers. The more we restrict the sale of personal data, the safer everyone—not just judges—becomes.
The story of judge esther salas son is a heavy one, but it's also one of incredible resilience. It’s about a family that was shattered and decided to spend their energy making sure no one else had to feel that specific kind of pain.
If you want to keep tabs on how these security measures are being implemented or learn more about the scholarships in Daniel's name, you can follow the updates from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or the Rutgers Law School alumni page. Protecting the people who uphold the law is, as Salas says, vital for democracy itself.
To contribute to Daniel’s legacy or learn more about judicial security, you can visit the official Rutgers Law School memorial page or look into the Federal Judges Association's resources on the Anderl Act.