Galloway, N.J. — Federal Judge Esther Salas, whose son was killed in a targeted attack at her New Jersey home, will be the keynote speaker at an online forum about judicial safety at 3 p.m. on April 12.

The virtual event, which will feature a panel of national security experts, is sponsored by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and the New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association. It will be presented live on Zoom and on the Hughes Center’s website, stockton.edu/hughescenter, where a recording will also be archived.

In July 2020, an assailant armed with a gun went to the Salas home and opened fire when the door was answered, seriously injuring Salas’ husband, Mark Anderl, and killing their son, Daniel, 20. State and federal laws named after Daniel have since been passed prohibiting the publication of addresses and personal information of judges.

Salas, a U.S. District Court judge in New Jersey, will discuss her family’s tragedy and what rising threats of violence against judges means for independence of the courts. After Salas’ address, a panel of experts will provide an overview of the problem, what is being done about it in New Jersey and in other states, and strategies for protecting courthouses and judges.

Albertina Webb, N.J. Hispanic Bar president and a partner at Hill Wallack LLP, will introduce Judge Salas. Retired Judge Julio Mendez, a senior contributing analyst for the Hughes Center, will moderate the panel discussion.

Panelists include:

• Robin Morante, chief of Court and Judicial Security, New Jersey, with Robert P. Arter, Esq., Advisory Committee on Extrajudicial Activities
• Nathan W. Hall, National Center for State Courts; principal, Court Consulting Services
• John Muffler, MS, CTM, principal, Aequitas Global Security, LLC; formerly U.S. Marshals Service National Center for Judicial Security
• John Christopher Palmer, Court Security director, Utah State Courts, formerly head of travel security for Obama White House.

New Jersey lawyers may earn CLE credits through the NJHBA by attending the event but must register for the Zoom webinar here. For more information, visit stockton.edu/hughescenter.

About the Hughes Center

The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy (www.stockton.edu/hughescenter) at Stockton University serves as a catalyst for research, analysis and innovative policy solutions on the economic, social and cultural issues facing New Jersey, and promotes the civic life of New Jersey through engagement, education and research. The center is named for the late William J. Hughes, whose distinguished career includes service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ambassador to Panama and as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Stockton. The Hughes Center can be found on YouTube, and can be followed on Facebook @StocktonHughesCenter, Twitter @hughescenter and Instagram @stockton_hughes_center.