Rep. Sherrill Secures Inclusion of Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act in the Final Version of the NDAA

Washington, DC– Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted to secure the inclusion of the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation, originally introduced by Congresswoman Sherrill and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), ensures key steps to protect the federal judiciary and safeguard the personally identifiable information of federal judges and their immediate families.

“Judge Salas and her husband experienced a tragedy that no parent should ever endure. With the inclusion of the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act in the final version of the NDAA, we are taking action to protect all our public servants on the federal bench and prevent this type of violence in the future,” said Rep. Sherrill. “This commonsense bill will ensure the privacy and security of all federal judges, as well as their families, while they work to protect the rule of law and our Constitution. I want to thank my colleagues Senators Menendez and Booker for their dedication to bringing this legislation across the finish line.”

Alongside the Supreme Court Police Parity Act that was enacted this summer, the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act will extend protections for all federal judges. The legislation authorizes funding for the federal judiciary to monitor and assess online threats, maintain records, investigate complaints, and address acts of aggression and violations.

The Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act would also allow the U.S. Marshal Service to hire additional intelligence analysts, deputy U.S. Marshals, and other personnel to ensure the agency is able to anticipate and deter threats to federal judges. The legislation would shield personal information of federal judges and their immediate family, including home addresses, social security numbers, contact information, vehicle registration information, and the name of the schools and employers of their immediate family members.

Rep. Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor, first introduced this bill in 2020 along with Senators Menendez and Booker, in response to the tragic targeted attack on US District Court Judge Esther Salas at her New Jersey home. In July 2020, a man posing as a FedEx delivery driver went to the home of Judge Salas and opened fire, critically wounding her husband, Mark Anderl, and killing their 20-year-old son, Daniel. The gunman, identified by authorities as a “men’s rights”  attorney, had previously argued a case before Judge Salas and used publicly available information to target the judge. Judge Salas later made a personal, public plea for greater privacy protections for federal judges.

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