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An “anti-feminist lawyer” has been identified by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey for shooting of a federal judge’s family in NJ.

USA TODAY

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – The investigation into the Sunday shooting death of the son of a federal judge continued Monday with the FBI naming a dead attorney as the “primary suspect.”

The FBI identified attorney Roy Den Hollander as the suspect in the shooting in a Monday afternoon tweet and added Hollander was dead. A spokesperson for the FBI’s Newark, New Jersey, office declined to comment further, but Hollander’s website describes him as an “anti-feminist lawyer.” 

U.S. District Judge Esther Salas’ son, Daniel Anderl, and husband, defense attorney Mark Anderl, were shot in their New Jersey home in North Brunswick Township. According to the Associated Press, the attack began with a man who posed as a delivery driver and knocked on the door.

Francis “Mac” Womack told ABC News that Daniel Anderl was “shot through the heart” and died. ABC News, citing law enforcement, added Mark Anderl is in critical condition. Hollander died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Associated Press reported. 

“Judge Salas and her family are in our thoughts at this time as they cope with this senseless act,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a Sunday tweet. 

Here’s what we know about the incident:

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An attorney found dead in Rockland, New York, may be involved in the fatal shooting of Judge Esther Salas’ 20-year-old son.

USA TODAY

Who was Roy Den Hollander? 

Den Hollander identified himself on his website as being an “anti-feminist lawyer,” saying he battles against the “infringement of Men’s Rights by the Feminists and their fellow sisters the PCers.”

Cases he worked on include a federal suit claiming that New York City nightclubs discriminated against men by offering free or reduced admission to women on “ladies’ nights.” The suit was dismissed.

He also claimed that Columbia University’s women’s studies program was a violation of Title IX and the U.S. Constitution. Title IX states that no one should be discriminated against on the basis of sex under any U.S. Department of Education program. That case was also dismissed.

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Past case involving Den Hollander and Salas

Elizabeth Kyle-Labell sued the Selective Service System in 2015 asking to be allowed to register and was represented by Den Hollander. 

“My client is saying, ‘Look, I’m being discriminated against because I’m being prevented from doing something that other people can do because of my sex,'” Den Hollander said in 2019.

Salas ruled in 2019 that the lawsuit could proceed days after a judge in Texas declared the male-only draft unconstitutional in a case brought by two men.

The last action taken by Salas on the case was canceling a scheduled June 25 oral arguments motion. It’s unclear if Den Hollander had previous interactions with Salas’ husband or son.

What happened in the shooting?

According to NBC New York, Anderl and his son were shot multiple times on the front step of their home in North Brunswick off of Hidden Lake Drive about 5:15 p.m. Sunday. Salas was not injured in the shooting.

The perpetrator was believed to be a lone gunman posing as a FedEx delivery person, the Associated Press reported. 

Who is Esther Salas?

Salas, a federal district court judge, presided over a wide ranges of cases in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, ranging from trademark infringements, the draft and suspected terrorists.

She was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2011.

Salas presided over the bank fraud trial of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice and her husband Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice. They have both been released after serving sentences in federal prison.

Salas has also been assigned to preside over a class-action lawsuit brought against Deutsche Bank which alleges the financial institution had poor financial reporting practices and failed to monitor “high-risk” customers including convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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The 20-year-old son of a federal judge was killed in a shooting at the family’s home.

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Who was Daniel Anderl?

Daniel Anderl, the son of federal Judge Esther Salas and criminal defense attorney Mark Anderl, died in the shooting.

He was preparing to enter his junior year at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He made the university’s School of Arts and Science’s Dean’s List for the spring semester. 

The 20-year-old was an alumnus of St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey. 

“He was a great kid and well-liked,” St. Joseph High School Principal Anne Rivera said. “He was a well-rounded student and did well in school. He epitomized what it is to be a St. Joseph man. We are in shock and we are so sad for the family. They remain in our thoughts and prayers.”

Contributing: Greg Tufaro and Suzanne Russell, Bridgewater Courier News; Jay Cannon and Jordan Culver, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

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