Editor’s note: This is the second of two articles on the NJSBF 2026 Medal of Honor recipients. An interview with the other recipient, Gerald H. Baker, appeared in a prior edition of The Bar Report.
The New Jersey State Bar Foundation is proud to present the 2026 Medal of Honor, the Foundation's highest recognition, to U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas.
Judge Salas made history as the first Hispanic judge to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. She began her legal career as an attorney with the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of New Jersey before joining the federal bench. Throughout her distinguished career, she has earned a reputation as a champion for equal justice, a mentor to women and attorneys from diverse backgrounds and a steadfast advocate for judicial independence and security.
In July 2020, Judge Salas and her family endured an unimaginable tragedy when her son, Daniel Anderl, was murdered at their home by an individual who had obtained and compiled her personal information, including her home address. In the aftermath of the attack, Judge Salas transformed her grief into action, leading the effort to enact Daniel's Law, landmark legislation that protects the personal information of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers from public disclosure.
Her advocacy has since extended well beyond New Jersey. Through her leadership, education and public service, Judge Salas has become a national voice for judicial security and independence while continuing to support and mentor members of the legal profession.
Along with fellow Medal of Honor recipient Gerald H. Baker, Judge Salas will be honored during an awards ceremony at the Park Chateau in East Brunswick on Sept. 22.
“The Medal of Honor celebrates individuals whose careers have strengthened the legal profession through exceptional leadership, integrity and dedication to public service,” said Ralph J. Lamparello, president of the NJSBF. “Gerald H. Baker and U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas have each made an enduring impact on the administration of justice and the people of New Jersey. We are proud to recognize their extraordinary achievements and lasting contributions with this year’s Medal of Honor.”
Judge Salas recently spoke about her career, the profound loss that reshaped her life's work, her advocacy for judicial security and independence and what receiving the Medal of Honor means to her.
Before becoming a federal judge, you built a successful career as a litigator. Can you briefly talk about your career leading to the bench? What experiences during those early years most shaped the judge you would eventually become?
I always envisioned becoming an assistant prosecutor. While I was in law school, I interned at the Essex County Prosecutor's Office after my first year and remained there throughout law school. I was convinced that was where my career would begin. But when I applied for a position, circumstances beyond my control prevented that opportunity from materializing. I finished my clerkship without a job.
After feeling sorry for myself for a little while, I put on the only suit I owned and walked up and down Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick, dropping off my résumé and writing sample at law firms. I walked into a small firm, struck up a conversation with the receptionist, and, unbeknownst to me, the managing partner overheard the exchange. He invited me in for an interview on the spot and offered me a job. That experience changed everything. It launched my career as a criminal defense attorney and taught me one of the most important lessons of my life: you can make all the plans you want, but life often has other ideas. What matters is how you respond when those plans change.
Looking back, I'm grateful that things unfolded the way they did. That unexpected opportunity led me to the Office of the Federal Public Defender and ultimately to serving as a U.S. magistrate judge and, in 2011, as a United States district judge.
When you were starting out as a lawyer, did you ever envision yourself serving on the federal bench, or was becoming a judge something that developed later in your career? What ultimately drew you to judicial service?
Becoming a judge was never part of my original plan. It wasn't until I was at the Office of the Federal Public Defender that I began to see judicial vacancies opening and watched colleagues I admired pursue those positions. At some point, I asked myself, “Why not me?” That meant pushing past a lot of self-doubt and what many of us now call imposter syndrome. I applied for a U.S. magistrate judge position and didn't even get a callback from the merit selection panel. I remember checking my phone to make sure it was working.
But I wasn't discouraged. I applied again, made it all the way to the final round and still wasn't selected. Rather than give up I drew on the example my mother had set throughout my childhood. She faced adversity with resilience, and that taught me to keep moving forward, even after setbacks. The third time, I was selected to serve as a U.S. magistrate judge. It was an incredible honor and a tremendous gift, one for which I remain grateful every single day.
You made history as the first Hispanic woman to serve as a U.S. district judge in New Jersey. What did that milestone mean to you personally, and what do you hope it has meant for young lawyers considering careers in the Judiciary?
There are actually two very meaningful milestones for me. The first was becoming a United States magistrate judge, where I was the first Hispanic person – man or woman – to serve in that role in New Jersey. The second, of course, was my appointment as a United States district judge, becoming the first Hispanic woman to serve on the federal district court in our state. I hope those milestones have shown young lawyers, especially Latinas and others who may not have seen themselves reflected on the bench, that they belong there. Representation matters. If my journey has encouraged even one young person to believe that these opportunities are within reach, then that is a legacy I'm deeply proud of.
The attack on your family in 2020 was an unimaginable tragedy. In the months that followed, what helped you find the strength to continue serving and eventually return to the bench?
I think it's important to be honest about what those first days were like. When the doctors came into that hospital room to tell me that Daniel hadn't survived, the grief was overwhelming. I often say that, in that moment, the light inside me went out. I was physically present in those early days as my husband, Mark, fought for his life in the ICU, but I felt completely disconnected. I wasn't really there.
Everything changed that Wednesday after the shooting. A doctor came in to tell me that Mark had suffered another setback, and I describe what happened next as a gentle nudge from above. I asked a friend for a pen and a pad of paper, looked the doctor in the eye and asked, "What's your name?" That simple question marked the moment when the light inside me began to flicker back on. Within two weeks, I recorded my first public message urging our nation's leaders to do more to protect judges and their families. I filmed that video on the very same day I had to place Daniel in the mausoleum. I wore the same suit to both. Looking back, I don't know how I found the strength, except to say that something greater than me was carrying me.
I'm a deeply spiritual person and my faith became my anchor. So did my love for Daniel, my commitment to Mark and the values my mother instilled in me long before that day. Those things gave me the strength not only to return to the bench, but also to dedicate myself to protecting judges at every level across this country. If I had to distill it to its essentials, the forces that carried me forward were faith, forgiveness and family.
Your advocacy after Daniel’s death has led to significant reforms, including legislation to better protect judges' personal information. When you look at the progress that has been made, what accomplishments are you most proud of? And, what additional steps can legislators take to better protect judges and their families?
It's difficult to single out one accomplishment because every step forward has mattered. I am deeply grateful that New Jersey's leaders acted so quickly after our family's attack. Just four and a half months later, they enacted Daniel's Law, which I believe has become the gold standard for protecting judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers. I'm incredibly thankful to Governor Murphy and the Legislature for recognizing the urgency of the moment and taking action.
I'm equally proud of the passage of the federal Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act. Together, those laws have helped establish a framework that other states and territories are now looking to emulate. We continue to encourage jurisdictions that have not yet adopted similar protections to do so because, when it comes to judicial security, you need multiple layers of protection. That said, there is still much more to be done. Congress must ensure that the federal judiciary and the U.S. Marshals Service have the resources they need to respond to the growing number of security threats facing judges and their families. Funding is essential, but it is only part of the solution.
Equally important, our political leaders must stop using inflammatory and irresponsible rhetoric to attack judges simply because they disagree with a court's decisions. That kind of language has real-world consequences. It fuels hostility toward the Judiciary and can embolden vulnerable individuals to take matters into their own hands. An independent judiciary is fundamental to our democracy. Protecting judges ultimately protects the rule of law.
Threats and intimidation directed at members of the judiciary appear to be increasing. How concerned are you about the impact this environment could have on judicial independence and on attracting talented lawyers to the bench?
I've never been more concerned. The threats to judicial security, judicial independence and, ultimately, our democracy have reached a level I've never seen before. I've tried to be an equal-opportunity denouncer. When members of the Supreme Court faced protests outside their homes following a controversial decision, I publicly said that was wrong. I've also spoken out when I believed elected officials from either party crossed the line in their rhetoric about judges. But what we're seeing today is different. The volume, the intensity, the nature of the attacks have escalated dramatically.
Judges are being called monsters, criminals and "rogue judges." They're being threatened with impeachment simply because of their decisions. We've seen pizza doxxing, swatting, spoofing and threats directed not only at judges, but also at their spouses and children. At the same time, I continue to see remarkable resilience within the Judiciary. Every day, judges across this country honor their oaths and apply the law fairly and uphold the Constitution despite extraordinary pressure. Their commitment to the rule of law has not wavered.
What concerns me most are the long-term effects. We don't yet know what years of relentless threats and public attacks will mean for judges and their families. Nor do we know how many exceptionally talented lawyers will decide that serving on the bench simply isn't worth the risk to the people they love. I believe we're already beginning to see signs of that. At least in my experience, the number of applicants for United States magistrate judge positions is not what it once was. While I can't speak to national data, I worry that outstanding lawyers may decide against judicial service because they fear for their families' safety.
Judges should never have to weigh personal safety or the well-being of their loved ones when deciding how to rule. Justice requires independent decision-making, free from intimidation or fear. If judges begin to worry that faithfully applying the law could put their families in danger, that is a threat not just to the Judiciary, but to the rule of law itself.
In addition to your advocacy for judicial security, you've worked to honor Daniel's memory through Daniel's Pantry. Can you talk about how that initiative has grown and what it means to you to see his legacy helping people across the country?
Daniel's Pantry has grown beyond anything I ever imagined. Today, there are six locations. We have a pantry in each of New Jersey's three federal courthouses, one at Esther Salas Academy in my hometown of Union City, another in the federal courthouse in Cincinnati, and most recently, we celebrated the opening of our sixth location in Hawaii.
What makes me most proud is seeing Daniel's name associated with compassion and service. Every pantry is a reminder that even after unimaginable loss, something good can grow. Whether it's providing food to a family in need or simply reminding people that their community cares, that's the kind of legacy every parent hopes to leave behind. I'm also incredibly grateful for the many people who have embraced this mission. Some volunteer, others donate or participate in fundraising events, but every act of generosity helps keep Daniel's light shining. At a time when the world can feel heavy, Daniel's Pantry brings people together around our shared humanity. I'm proud that my son's name has become synonymous with kindness, hope and helping others.
What does receiving the Medal of Honor mean to you and how do you think the New Jersey State Bar Foundation makes a difference for New Jersey residents?
Receiving this honor is incredibly humbling. When I look at the individuals who have received this recognition before me, I feel deeply honored simply to be included among them. I've always believed that recognition is less about the individual and more about the work. For me, this award provides another opportunity to raise awareness about judicial security and judicial independence. These issues remain critically important as we continue to confront threats to the Judiciary and, ultimately, our democracy. I'm grateful for the platform to continue that conversation.
I also believe the New Jersey State Bar Foundation plays an invaluable role in our communities. It shines a light on the good work being done across our state and reminds us that there are so many people dedicated to making New Jersey a better place. At a time when negative news often dominates the headlines, the Foundation celebrates the people and efforts that bring us together, inspire us and strengthen our communities. I'm grateful to the Foundation for this recognition and for the work it does every day to honor those who are making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Register for the Sept. 22 Medal of Honor Awards celebration here. Visit the Danny's Pantry website to learn more about its mission and how to support individuals and families facing food insecurity.