Latest news with #EstherSalas
CTV News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
U.S. Federal judges detail rise in threats, ‘pizza doxings,' as Trump ramps up criticism
News media is set up in front of the home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, July 20, 2020, in North Brunswick, N.J. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) In 2020, a disgruntled litigant posing as a deliveryman opened fire at the New Jersey home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, killing her 20-year-old son Daniel Anderl. Five years later, as U.S. President Donald Trump steps up his criticism of federal judges who have blocked some of his agenda, dozens of judges have had unsolicited pizzas delivered to their homes, often in Daniel Anderl's name. U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. of Rhode Island, who stalled Trump's initial round of across-the-board spending cuts, is among those who received pizzas in Anderl's name. His courtroom also has been flooded by threatening calls, including one profanity-laced one that called for his assassination. McConnell, Jr. played a recording of the call during an unusual discussion Thursday where multiple federal judges discussed threats they have received — a notable conversation because judges usually only speak publicly from the bench and through their rulings, and rarely if ever, about personal threats and attacks. Salas and others said the number of attacks has escalated in recent months. Without using his name, Salas called on Trump and his allies to tone down the rhetoric and stop demonizing the judiciary, for fear of what more could happen. 'We're used to being appealed. But keep it on the merits, stop demonizing us,' Salas said. 'They're inviting people to do us harm.' Thursday's event was sponsored by Speak up for Justice, a nonpartisan group supporting an independent judiciary. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour of Washington recalled having a police SWAT team called to his home to respond to a false report of an attack after Coughenour in January halted Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of people in the country illegally. U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik of Washington also had pizzas delivered in Anderl's name to both his home and those of his two adult children, each in different cities, after an article in which he was quoted as being critical of attacks on judges was picked up by a television station in the Pacific Northwest, where he hears cases. 'The message to me was 'we know where you live, we know where your kids live, and they could end up dead like Daniel Anderl did,'' Lasnik said in an interview. Salas says U.S. Marshals have told her of more than 100 cases of so-called 'pizza doxxings,' unwanted deliveries to the homes of federal judges and their families, since 2024, with most occurring this year. Salas added that she's heard of additional cases targeting state judges in states ranging from Colorado to Florida, incidents that wouldn't be tracked by Marshals, who protect federal judges. 'This is not some random, silly act, this is a targeted, concentrated, coordinated attack on judges,' Salas said in an interview, 'and yet we don't hear any condemnation from Washington.' Salas, nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, in 2022 was critical of protests at the homes of Republican-nominated Supreme Court justices who revoked women's right to have an abortion, which were followed by the arrest of a man at the home of U.S. Justice Brett Kavanaugh who said he was there to assassinate the justice. Salas said both sides of the political aisle have used worrying rhetoric about judges, but it's reached a new peak since Trump took office. 'I've often referred to it as a bonfire that I believe the current administration is throwing accelerants on,' Salas said. Trump himself has led the charge against judges, often going after them by name on social media. He's said judges who've ruled against his administration are 'sick,' 'very dangerous' and 'lunatic.' Trump's allies have amplified his rhetoric and called for impeaching judges who rule against the president or simply disobeying their rulings. Earlier this year, several judges at the panel noted, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee had a 'wanted' poster of judges who'd crossed the president hanging outside his congressional office. Lasnik said many judges appointed by presidents of both parties have told him of concerns but are nervous about discussing the issue openly. 'A lot of them don't know how to speak up and are afraid of crossing a line somewhere where they would get a judicial complaint like judge Boasberg did,' Lasnik said, referring to U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg of D.C., who infuriated the Trump administration by finding they likely committed criminal contempt by disobeying his order to turn around a deportation flight to El Salvador. Though Chief Justice John Roberts has come to Boasberg's defense, Trump's Department of Justice this week filed a complaint against Boasberg over comments he made at a judicial conference that other judges worry the Trump administration won't obey their orders. Last month, Trump's Justice Department took the extraordinary step of suing every federal judge in Maryland over rules governing how they handle immigration cases. More than five dozen judges who've ruled against Trump are receiving enhanced online protection, including scrubbing their identifying information from websites, according to two Trump-appointed judges who wrote Congress urging more funding for judicial security. In 2022, Congress passed a law named after Daniel Anderl allowing judges to sue internet sites to take down identifying information. Nicholas Riccardi, The Associated Press
Washington Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Federal judges detail rise in threats, 'pizza doxings,' as Trump ramps up criticism
In 2020, a disgruntled litigant posing as a deliveryman opened fire at the New Jersey home of District Judge Esther Salas, killing her 20-year-old son Daniel Anderl. Five years later, as President Donald Trump steps up hiscriticism of federal judges who have blocked some of his agenda, dozens of judges have had unsolicited pizzas delivered to their homes, often in Daniel Anderl's name.
Associated Press
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Federal judges detail rise in threats, 'pizza doxxings,' as Trump ramps up criticism
In 2020, a disgruntled litigant posing as a deliveryman opened fire at the New Jersey home of District Judge Esther Salas, killing her 20-year-old son Daniel Anderl. Five years later, as President Donald Trump steps up hiscriticism of federal judges who have blocked some of his agenda, dozens of judges have had unsolicited pizzas delivered to their homes, often in Daniel Anderl's name. District Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. of Rhode Island, who stalled Trump's initial round of across-the-board spending cuts, is among those who received pizzas in Anderl's name. His courtroom also has been flooded by threatening calls, including one profanity-laced one that called for his assassination. McConnell, Jr. played a recording of the call during an unusual discussion Thursday where multiple federal judges discussed threats they have received — a notable conversation because judges usually only speak publicly from the bench and through their rulings, and rarely if ever, about personal threats and attacks. Salas and others said the number of attacks has escalated in recent months. Without using his name, Salas called on Trump and his allies to tone down the rhetoric and stop demonizing the judiciary, for fear of what more could happen. 'We're used to being appealed. But keep it on the merits, stop demonizing us,' Salas said. 'They're inviting people to do us harm.' Thursday's event was sponsored by Speak up for Justice, a nonpartisan group supporting an independent judiciary. District Judge John C. Coughenour of Washington recalled having a police SWAT team called to his home to respond to a false report of an attack after Coughenour in January halted Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of people in the country illegally. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik of Washington also had pizzas delivered in Anderl's name to both his home and those of his two adult children, each in different cities, after an article in which he was quoted as being critical of attacks on judges was picked up by a television station in the Pacific Northwest, where he hears cases. 'The message to me was 'we know where you live, we know where your kids live, and they could end up dead like Daniel Anderl did,'' Lasnik said in an interview. Salas says U.S. Marshals have told her of more than 100 cases of so-called 'pizza doxxings,' unwanted deliveries to the homes of federal judges and their families, since 2024, with most occurring this year. Salas added that she's heard of additional cases targeting state judges in states ranging from Colorado to Florida, incidents that wouldn't be tracked by Marshals, who protect federal judges. 'This is not some random, silly act, this is a targeted, concentrated, coordinated attack on judges,' Salas said in an interview, 'and yet we don't hear any condemnation from Washington.' Salas, nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, in 2022 was critical of protests at the homes of Republican-nominated Supreme Court justices who revoked women's right to have an abortion, which were followed by the arrest of a man at the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh who said he was there to assassinate the justice. Salas said both sides of the political aisle have used worrying rhetoric about judges, but it's reached a new peak since Trump took office. 'I've often referred to it as a bonfire that I believe the current administration is throwing accelerants on,' Salas said. Trump himself has led the charge against judges, often going after them by name on social media. He's said judges who've ruled against his administration are 'sick,' 'very dangerous' and 'lunatic.' Trump's allies have amplified his rhetoric and called for impeaching judges who rule against the president or simply disobeying their rulings. Earlier this year, several judges at the panel noted, Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee had a 'wanted' poster of judges who'd crossed the president hanging outside his congressional office. Lasnik said many judges appointed by presidents of both parties have told him of concerns but are nervous about discussing the issue openly. 'A lot of them don't know how to speak up and are afraid of crossing a line somewhere where they would get a judicial complaint like judge Boasberg did,' Lasnik said, referring to District Judge James E. Boasberg of D.C., who infuriated the Trump administration by finding they likely committed criminal contempt by disobeying his order to turn around a deportation flight to El Salvador. Though Chief Justice John Roberts has come to Boasberg's defense, Trump's Department of Justice this week filed a complaint against Boasberg over comments he made at a judicial conference that other judges worry the Trump administration won't obey their orders. Last month, Trump's Justice Department took the extraordinary step of suing every federal judge in Maryland over rules governing how they handle immigration cases. More than five dozen judges who've ruled against Trump are receiving enhanced online protection, including scrubbing their identifying information from websites, according to two Trump-appointed judges who wrote Congress urging more funding for judicial security. In 2022, Congress passed a law named after Daniel Anderl allowing judges to sue internet sites to take down identifying information.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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. Email: srussell@ 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
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NJ Supreme Court says Daniel's Law is constitutional, journalists must abide
Daniel's Law, enacted by the state Legislature to protect the home addresses and phone numbers of judicial and law enforcement officials, is "narrowly tailored" to protect those officials and their families from harm and threats, yet also complies with the freedom of speech and press guarantees in the Constitution, the state Supreme Court has ruled. Daniel's Law was enacted after Daniel Anderl, son of federal Judge Esther Salas, was fatally shot at their North Brunswick home in July 2020 by a disgruntled attorney, posing as a deliveryman, who was stalking Salas. The gunman had complied a dossier of information about Salas, including her home address. Daniel's Law allows the individuals covered under the law to prevent the disclosure of their home address and unpublished phone number by filing a request for non-disclosure with the person or business who has the information. The Supreme Court ruling on June 17 was on a case brought by Charles Kratovil, editor of New Brunswick Today, who was working on a story in 2023 that Anthony Caputo, then New Brunswick's police director and board member of the city's Parking Authority, had a voting address in Cape May, suggesting that Caputo lived hours away from New Brunswick. Caputo retired as police director in 2024. "I am pleased that this case may very well have accelerated Anthony Caputo's departure from New Brunswick, because his poor leadership was negatively impacting our police department and parking authority, where he held onto public positions for much longer than he should have," said Kratovil, who was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey Foundation and the law firm of Lowenstein Sandler. More: Phil Murphy, Matt Platkin vow increased security for NJ officials after Minnesota shooting After Kratovil discovered through an Open Public Records Act request that Caputo was registered to vote in Cape May, Kratovil shared the voter registration information, including Caputo's address, with members of the Parking Authority's board on March 22, 2023. At a May 5, 2023 City Council meeting, Kratovil spoke during the public portion, identifying the street but not the house number on Caputo's voter profile. Ten days later, Kratovil received a letter from Caputo saying that under the provisions of Daniel's Law, he was a "covered person" whose home address and phone number are not subject to disclosure. Caputo requested that Kratovil cease disclosing the information and remove it from the internet. Daniel's Law allows a "covered person" to make that request in writing. The law also allows possible civil or criminal penalties if the request is not honored. According to court papers, Kratovil said the notice gave him "reasonable grounds to fear that he would be a target for an enforcement action that would seek to criminalize his investigative journalism." However, no civil action has been filed against Kratovil, nor has any criminal proceeding been instituted, court papers say. Kratovil then filed a show cause order in Middlesex County Superior Court, arguing that provisions of Daniel's Law are unconstitutional because they infringe on the freedom of speech and press. He also asked for an injunction barring any civil or criminal penalties against him. Judge Joseph Rea on Sept. 21, 2023 denied the show cause order, ruling that while Kratovil had lawfully obtained Caputo's home address, the exact street address was "logically immaterial" to the public question whether Caputo resided in Cape May. Rea ruled that protection of public officials was "a state interest of the highest order" and said Daniel's Law was "as narrowly tailored as possible to achieve its purpose by way of the least restrictive means." Kratovil then appealed Rea's decision to the state Appellate Division which ruled that Caputo's residence in Cape May was a matter of public interest, but his street address was not. The appellate court also ruled that Rea's decision did not have a "chilling effect" on Kratovil's journalism because the court had not told him "what he could or could not publish." More: NJ federal judge whose son was murdered: Attacks on judges worrisome for democracy The state Supreme Court then accepted Kratovil's appeal of the Appellate Division ruling. In its 40-page decision, the justices agreed with the lower court's rulings that Daniel's Law was "narrowly tailored" by "the least restrictive means" and does not apply to all public employees and officials. The law only applies to judges, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and child protective investigators in the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency. The justices found that Daniel's Law was constitutional and did not accept Kratovil's suggestions that the law be changed. "While I am disappointed by the ruling, I will continue to advocate for transparency and work hard to serve the public interest here in the community that I call home," Kratovil said. The justices also found that there is no liability for publishing addresses or phone numbers until that person invokes the protection of Daniel's Law by providing notice. Kratovil said he was "disappointed" in the ruling. "While the New Jersey Supreme Court agreed with us that this was a matter of public concern, they also said that the law was narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling government purpose of the highest order, even though it was the government that released the address in question," he said in a statement. "When the government provides information to the media, the U.S. Supreme Court instructs courts to assume that the government should use other tools to guard against the dissemination of that information and not take the extreme step of punishing truthful speech. We are disappointed that the New Jersey Supreme Court did not follow this precedent." The ruling comes days after a man disguised as a police officer shot and killed Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former speaker of the state House, and her husband Mark, and wounded a state senator and his wife early Saturday. The accused gunman, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, was captured late Sunday night. Email: mdeak@ This article originally appeared on NJ Supreme Court says Daniel's Law is constitutional, press must abide Solve the daily Crossword
