Judge Esther Salas, whose son was killed at NJ home, honored at ribbon cutting for new school
UNION CITY, New Jersey (WABC) -- A federal judge is further cementing her name in New Jersey history after having a school named after her.
The honor for U.S. District Judge Esther Salas comes a little more than five years after she was the target of an assassination attempt, an attack that killed her only son.
At a ribbon cutting for Esther Salas Academy in Union City Monday, Salas preached the importance of democracy to the students who now go to the school that bears her name.
"For me, it's all about us remembering that we are a melting pot, whose citizens don't all look the same," she said. "But we love America."
Past and present leaders of the judiciary and elected officials from across New Jersey joined the judge's family, friends, colleagues and students of the new academy to honor Salas.
She is the first Hispanic woman to serve as a district court judge and a U.S. magistrate judge.
"I'm honored to be the daughter of Cuban Mexican parents," Salas told the gathering. "I'm so happy today."
Salas' son, Daniel Anderl was 20 when he was shot and killed at the family's home on July 19, 2020.
A gunman had targeted the family's home, also critically injuring Salas' husband, Mark Anderl.
In the aftermath, Judge Salas successfully fought for Daniel's Law, which makes it a crime to publish the personal information of judges and their families.
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