Plea for address confidentiality compels legislative fixes

"My son's death cannot be in vain, which is why I am begging those in power to do something to help my brothers and sisters on the bench," said United States District Court Judge Esther Salas in an emotional statement last week. The nearly nine-minute videotaped statement came two weeks after the July 19 attack at her home by a disgruntled attorney, who killed her 20-year-old son, Daniel Anderl, and critically injured her husband and prominent defense attorney, Mark Anderl.

The shooting drew an outpouring of support and demands for measures to protect information such as addresses and telephone numbers of judges. The New Jersey State Bar Association is speaking with elected officials and state and federal court staff to craft a path forward on the safety of judges.

In New Jersey, legislation was introduced as early as 2017 to prohibit the posting or publishing of home addresses or telephone numbers of judges and state, county and municipal prosecutors, as well as their spouses and children, on the internet. Sponsored by Senators Kip Bateman and Nicholas Scutari in the Senate, and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano in the Assembly, the bills would amend current legislation that prohibits this practice for law enforcement officers. A-1649 (Quijano) remains pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.