I have no personal relationship with the Hon. Esther Salas, U.S.D.J. for the District of New Jersey. Truth be told, I spend the vast majority of my time in New Jersey's Superior Court system. I do not do a great deal of work in our Federal courts. I have had the pleasure of appearing before Her Honor on a handful of occasions. She has always struck me, as she has those men and women who know her considerably better than I do or ever shall, as being a bright, informed, and impartial jurist.
Two weeks ago, Judge Salas and her husband, Mark Anderl, began living every parent's worst nightmare. A psychopath appeared on their doorstep on a Sunday evening, intent apparently on doing harm to Her Honor. While she escaped the encounter unhurt, the intruder shot her husband several times, injuring him severely. Worse yet, he shot and killed the couple's only child, their twenty-year-old son Daniel Mark.
It is a disturbance in the natural order of the universe for us parents to bury our children. It is an unspeakable horror to have our child's life stolen by a madman's cowardice. I know not how a parent powers through such a tragedy. I spend a portion of my day, every day, hoping I shall never have to do so.
I know not whether I would have the courage to power through such a tragedy. Not only does Judge Salas possess that courage, she possesses the courage to express her thoughts in a nine-minute video statement. If you are a parent, or hope to be one someday, I commend it to your attention. It is moving. It is powerful.
It is heartbreaking.
-AK
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