GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Federal Judge Esther Salas, whose son was killed in a targeted attack at her New Jersey home, will be the keynote speaker at an online forum about judicial safety 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 12.
The virtual event, which will feature a panel of national security experts, is sponsored by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and the New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association. It will be presented live on Zoom and on the Hughes Center's website, stockton.edu/hughescenter, where a recording will also be archived.
In July 2020, an assailant armed with a gun went to the Salas home and opened fire when the door was answered, seriously injuring Salas' husband, Mark Anderl, and killing their son, Daniel, 20. State and federal laws named after Daniel have since been passed prohibiting the publication of addresses and personal information of judges.
Salas, a U.S. District Court judge in New Jersey, will discuss her family's tragedy and what rising threats of violence against judges means for independence of the courts. After Salas' address, a panel of experts will provide an overview of the problem, what is being done about it in New Jersey and in other states, and strategies for protecting courthouses and judges.
Albertina Webb, N.J. Hispanic Bar president and a partner at Hill Wallack LLP, will introduce Judge Salas. Retired Judge Julio Mendez, a senior contributing analyst for the Hughes Center, will moderate the panel discussion.
Panelists include:
