Judge says people are sending her pizzas in name of murdered son

  • Judge Esther Salas’ son was murdered in their home in 2020
  • She’s been outspoken against protecting members of the judiciary
  • The targeting comes amid criticism from President Trump

United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey Esther Salas has an emotional meeting with Senators following a Senate Committee on the Judiciary business meeting in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, Thursday, December 2, 2021. On July 19, 2020, Judge Salas’ son, Daniel Anderl, was killed in an assault at the Salas family home when a gunman posing as a delivery driver attempted to assassinate Judge Salas at her home. Judge Salas’ husband, attorney Mark Anderl, was also shot but survived the attack. Credit: Rod Lamkey / CNP/Sipa USANo Use Germany.

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(NewsNation) — A United States district judge says people are delivering pizzas to her home under the name of her son, who was murdered in 2020.

In an appearance on NBC News, Judge Esther Salas said she and some colleagues have received the pizzas following President Donald Trump’s criticism of judicial members.

In a 2022 interview on Fox News, Salas urged Congress to pass the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act — named after her son — which would boost security for federal judges and place restrictions on the distribution of federal judges’ personal information.

“The fact of the matter is, I do have to say that the rule of law is not different for Republicans. The rule of law is not different for Democrats,” Salas told Fox host John Roberts. “The rule of law is what this country has been founded on, and we as judges, our democracy, it mandates that we pass the Daniel Anderl bill and do it now. Enough is enough.”

“I think that members of Congress can see the escalation in the numbers of threats against judicial officers,” Salas said. “It’s just got to stop.”

New Jersey judge’s son killed in 2020 attack on home

Salas has been outspoken about increasing protection for judges since the 2020 attack on her home — carried out by a man who described himself as an “anti-feminist” — that killed her son and critically injured her husband.

According to CBS News, in July 2020, Salas’ son, Daniel Anderl, was shot by a gunman at the front door of the judge’s New Jersey home. The gunman had reportedly posed as a delivery person. Her son allegedly died trying to protect her and his father, Mark Anderl.

By the time Salas got to the door, the gunman was gone, and her husband had been hurt. Mark Anderl did survive the shooting.

NewsNation affiliate The Hill contributed to this report.

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