Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that he is leading a bipartisan effort, joined by 47 attorneys general, urging Congress to increase funding for the security of federal judges. The letter sent to Congressional leaders highlights the rise in threats and hostile incidents targeting judges, their families, and courthouse staff.
“As threats against federal judges reach all-time highs, Congress must take immediate action to protect our federal judges, their families, and court staff. Our experience in New Jersey—including the tragic murder of Judge Esther Salas’s son, Daniel Anderl—is a painful reminder of the critical and urgent need for this funding,” said Attorney General Platkin. “I am proud to lead a broad bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in urging Congress to provide this essential funding. And I am grateful for the immense courage of those like Judge Salas who continue to stand for justice despite the threats against them—threats that no public servant should ever have to endure.”
The press release notes that funding for the Judiciary’s Court Security program has been frozen for two years. This has resulted in insufficient resources for salaries of court security officers and upgrades to monitoring systems at federal courthouses.
There is also a call for more resources for the Judiciary’s Vulnerability Management Program (VMP), which supports implementation of the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act. Passed in 2022 with bipartisan support, this law was named after Daniel Anderl, who was killed during an attack on his mother, Judge Esther Salas. The act restricts data brokers from selling personal information about judges and allows judges and their families to request removal of such information from websites.
According to the letter referenced in the announcement, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., discussed increased threats facing members of the judiciary in his 2024 year-end report. The trend has continued into 2025; over 100 judges have reported being “doxxed” with unsolicited deliveries intended as intimidation tactics—some using Daniel Anderl’s name.
New Jersey has previously taken steps at the state level with Daniel’s Law, signed by Governor Phil Murphy in 2020. This law enables judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers to request that businesses stop disclosing their home addresses and unpublished phone numbers. The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General continues to defend this law against legal challenges.
The letter co-led by Attorney General Platkin includes support from Attorney General Dave Sunday (Pennsylvania), Attorney General John Formella (New Hampshire), Attorney General Keith Ellison (Minnesota), and Attorney General John B. McCuskey (West Virginia). Attorneys general from numerous other states and territories have also signed on.
