Attack on the Judiciary | 60 Minutes Archive

Rise in Threats Against Judges00:02

Half the time someone is unhappy with a judge's ruling, the normal recourse is an appeal. In today's politics, disgruntled parties threaten judges. Threats against federal judges jumped 400% in the last 5 years to more than 4,000 last year, many death threats, sometimes ending in violence. Judges are publicly calling on lawmakers for more protection.

Attack on Judge Esther Salas00:31

Federal Judge Esther Salas was at home in New Jersey in the basement with her son Daniel cleaning up after his 20th birthday party. A man disguised as a FedEx driver pulled up outside. Daniel said, "Let's keep talking. I love talking to you, Mom." The doorbell rang. Daniel ran upstairs. There was a boom like a mini bomb, then boom boom boom. Upstairs, Daniel lay bleeding by the door. Husband Mark was on his knees, holding his side. Daniel was barely clinging to life. Judge Salas picked up his shirt and saw the bullet hole. They screamed, "Daniel, hold on. Don't leave us." Daniel died on the way to the hospital. Mark was shot three times: right chest, left abdomen, arm.

Family Background and Attack Details02:01

Close-knit family called themselves the Three Musketeers. Daniel, a college sophomore, was the center of their universe. From wounds, FBI said Daniel tried to block the gunman. Judge Salas realized in FBI debriefings she was the target: "Tell me, ma'am, you were the target. He wanted to get you."

The shooter was Roy Den Hollander, 72-year-old lawyer who hated women and left a manifesto accusing Judge Salas of being "a lazy Latina, dragging her feet on his lawsuit." Police found his body the next day; he shot himself. FBI discovered he killed another lawyer a week before, then hunted Judge Salas. He knew her home, routes to work, church, Daniel's school, baseball games—all from open legal sources.