The death of Daniel Anderl in July 2020 shocked New Jersey and drew national attention to the security risks faced by judges and their families. The 20-year-old college student was killed after answering the door of his family home to a man disguised as a delivery driver.
The attacker was later identified as attorney Roy Den Hollander, a self-described anti-feminist who had previously appeared in a case overseen by Daniel’s mother, U.S. District Judge Esther Salas. Investigators determined that Salas was likely the intended target, while Daniel and his father, attorney Mark Anderl, were caught in the attack.
Who Was Daniel Anderl?
Daniel Anderl was the only child of Esther Salas and Mark Anderl. At the time of his death, he was 20 years old and studying at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Daniel was preparing to begin his junior year and had shown an interest in pursuing a career in law, following the professional path of his parents. His family described him as an energetic young man with significant potential.
His mother had become the first Hispanic woman to serve as a federal judge in New Jersey, while his father worked as a criminal defense attorney. Daniel had grown up around the legal profession and was interested in developing a career of his own.
What Happened in the 2020 Shooting?
On July 19, 2020, a man arrived at the Anderl family’s home in North Brunswick, New Jersey, appearing to be a delivery driver.
Daniel answered the door. The visitor reportedly had an envelope and asked for Judge Salas. The situation quickly turned violent when the man opened fire.
Daniel was shot and killed. When his father, Mark, went to investigate, he was also shot multiple times and seriously wounded. He survived after receiving medical treatment.
Esther Salas was inside the house at the time but was in another part of the home and was not physically injured.
Investigators later identified Roy Den Hollander as the suspected gunman. Authorities discovered him dead in New York’s Catskill region the following day from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A .380-caliber handgun believed to have been used in Daniel’s killing was found with Hollander, along with an envelope bearing Esther Salas’ name.
Why Was Judge Esther Salas Believed to Be the Target?
Investigators examined Hollander’s history, writings and legal disputes while trying to determine why the attack occurred.
Hollander had previously been involved in litigation concerning the Selective Service System. Judge Salas had presided over the case after Hollander filed a lawsuit challenging the military draft system’s treatment of men and women.
He had also publicly expressed strong anti-feminist views and had pursued lawsuits against organizations and institutions he believed discriminated against men.
Authorities later connected Hollander to the killing of California attorney Marc Angelucci, who had been shot at his home just eight days before Daniel’s death. The circumstances were strikingly similar: the attacker reportedly appeared at the door with a package and used a handgun.
Investigators ultimately concluded that Hollander was responsible for both killings and had potentially considered attacks against other judges.
Daniel Anderl’s Legacy and Judicial Security
After losing their son, Esther Salas and Mark Anderl turned their attention toward improving security and privacy protections for judges and their families.
Their efforts helped lead to the passage of Daniel’s Law in New Jersey in 2020. The legislation was designed to limit the public availability of personal information belonging to judges and certain judicial officials.
The campaign continued at the federal level. In 2022, Congress passed the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act, which strengthened protections for federal judges by allowing certain personal information to be removed or restricted from public government records.
For the Anderl family, the legislation became an important part of preserving Daniel’s memory while addressing a broader concern: the ability of threats against judges to extend to their families.
Daniel Anderl’s death therefore became more than a tragic crime story. It also became a catalyst for changes intended to make the judicial system safer for judges, their relatives and the people who work alongside them.
