19-07-2025
Federal judge's son remembered on the anniversary of his tragic death
The life and sacrifice of Daniel Anderl will be remembered July 19, the fifth anniversary of his death by a gunman targeting his mother, U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas.
A Mass of Remembrance for Anderl is scheduled for 5 p.m. at St. Augustine of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church in the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick, with the Rev. Canon Robert G. Lyman, the church's pastor, serving as celebrant and homilist.
Anderl was killed five years ago at the family's North Brunswick home by a gunman posing as a delivery person.
The gunman was a disgruntled attorney with a case before Salas. When both Daniel and his father, attorney Mark Anderl, answered the door, the gunman opened fire. Daniel was killed and his father was seriously injured.
Salas, who was in another part of the home and was not injured, said her son gave his life to save his parents.
The gunman, who later took his own life, had personal information about Salas and her family, including where they lived.
Salas, who was recently named to the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni, has advocated for laws to protect judges' personal identifiable information. In 2020 Gov. Phil Murphy signed Daniel's Law, legislation aimed at keeping personal and home identifying information of current and retired judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officials and their families from the public, including online.
More: NJ Supreme Court says Daniel's Law is constitutional, journalists must abide
In addition, the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act protects the personal information of federal judges and their families.
Salas has said she has relied on her faith to move forward after her son's death and forgave his killer because "hate is heavy, love is light."
Anderl was his parents' only child, a 2014 graduate of the St. Augustine of Canterbury School and 2018 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. He was studying at Catholic University to become a lawyer like his parents.
More: NJ federal judge whose son was murdered: Attacks on judges worrisome for democracy
On July 19, 2020, 72-year-old Roy Den Hollander, a self-proclaimed anti-feminist attorney who had a case before Salas, went to the family's home dressed as a delivery person with the intent of attacking the judge.
Den Hollander, who found Salas's personal information on the internet, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Rockland County, New York the day after the shooting.
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Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on NJ federal judge's son remembered on anniversary of his tragic death
