Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.), and co-authors of the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021 requested unanimous passage of the bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would safeguard the personally identifiable information of federal judges and their immediate families. For the third time, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) objected to passage of the bill, blocking the legislation from advancing today in the Senate and leaving federal judges and their families at risk. The bill is named after Daniel Anderl, the son of U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas of New Jersey. Daniel was murdered in July 2020 in a targeted attack against the judge and her family. Earlier today, Sen. Paul refused to meet with Judge Salas as she tried to make the case for protecting federal judges by advancing the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021.
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“In the month since we tried to pass this bill and now, our country has seen the tragic results of inaction […] The brutal murder of Judge Salas’ son, the horrific killing of a retired county judge in Wisconsin, and the attempt on Justice Kavanaugh’s life demand that Congress act to protect those who sit in the judiciary,” said Sen. Menendez. “There is simply no explanation or justification to protect Supreme Court justices while delaying legislation to protect judges at every level of the judiciary who face the same, if not greater, risks. No judge in America should have to fear for their lives and the safety of their family as they work to uphold our Constitution, our democracy, and ensure all people have equal justice under the law. I will continue working with Senator Booker until we get this done as we promised Judge Salas. ”
“As she has done before, Judge Esther Salas came to the Senate today to continue her tireless advocacy and make sure the tragedy that fell upon her family never happens to any other federal judge,” said Sen. Booker. “I’m bitterly disappointed that the Senate once again failed to pass the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act, legislation that has been negotiated for months by members on both sides of the aisle. No one who takes the oath to serve our country as a federal judge should ever live in fear of being targeted by someone who is able to easily access their personal information online. I remain committed to passing this bill and know that the effort will ultimately succeed.”
The Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act is co-authored by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and was originally introduced in September of 2020, weeks after Daniel Anderl, son of Judge Esther Salas was murdered in targeted attack on their New Jersey home and reintroduced last July as threats against the judiciary continue to rise. The legislation passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee last December with no opposition.
The Senate bill also cosponsored by Sens. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Kennedy (R-La.) Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Jack Reed 9D-R.I.) and Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.). The House version is co-led by Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.-11) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01).
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