The US Senate Thursday failed to advance proposed judicial safety legislation. The Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2020 would protect “judges’ personally identifiable information in public records” in order to promote judicial safety and the safety of judges’ families.

The Act is named after Daniel Anderl, son of New Jersey US District Court Judge Esther Salas, who was murdered in July 2020. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) said the act seeks to “make sure the tragedy that fell upon [Salas’] family never happens to any other federal judge.” Menendez stated, “it is important to protect this branch of our government because we want them to render decisions that are free from fear.”

Booker and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) requested unanimous passage of the legislation, but Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) objected. Paul said he blocked the bill’s advancement because it lacks addition protections for members of Congress.

In response to the result, Booker stated:

I’m bitterly disappointed that the Senate once again failed to pass the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act, legislation that has been negotiated for months by members on both sides of the aisle. No one who takes the oath to serve our country as a federal judge should ever live in fear of being targeted by someone who is able to easily access their personal information online. I remain committed to passing this bill and know that the effort will ultimately succeed.