A $500,000 gift from Seeger Weiss LLP has established The Seeger Weiss/Daniel Anderl Memorial Fund at the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law. The endowed fund will support the Institute’s mission to protect and advance the rule of law within the United States and abroad as well as to defend the judiciary from unjust and unsubstantiated attacks, which threaten judicial independence and diminish public faith in our judicial system.
Christopher A. Seeger, founding partner of Seeger Weiss LLP, serves on the Leadership Council at the Bolch Judicial Institute. He is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most accomplished plaintiff attorneys, known for his leadership in complex, high-profile multidistrict litigations. Through his tenacious advocacy, Seeger has championed the rights of hundreds of thousands of individuals harmed by corporate negligence, securing landmark settlements in the 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, the Philips Recalled CPAP Products Liability Litigation, and the National Prescription Opiate Litigation, to name a few.
The Seeger Weiss/Daniel Anderl Memorial Fund
The fund is named in memory of Daniel Anderl, the son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas and attorney Mark Anderl. Daniel was killed on July 19, 2020, when an armed assailant targeting Judge Salas came to their home. He was a 20-year-old rising junior at Catholic University who planned to follow his parents’ footsteps into a legal career.
“Through this endowment, we are honoring Daniel Anderl’s memory by supporting measures that defend judicial independence and making a long-term commitment to reaffirming the public’s faith in our courts,” said Seeger. “Now more than ever, it is critical to support entities like the Bolch Judicial Institute that strengthen our courts and preserve the fair administration of justice for all.”
The fund will provide support for Bolch Judicial Institute programs that strengthen judicial security while ensuring that courts remain accessible, independent, and responsive to all those seeking justice.
“At a time when judges face unprecedented threats to their safety and independence, this generous gift provides critical resources that will help us develop initiatives to address these challenges,” said Paul W. Grimm, David F. Levi Professor of the Practice of Law and director of the Bolch Judicial Institute. “The tragic circumstances surrounding Daniel Anderl’s death underscore the vital importance of our work in this area. We are deeply grateful to Christopher Seeger and Seeger Weiss LLP for this meaningful contribution that both honors Daniel’s memory and supports essential protections for our judiciary.”
Judge Salas, who received the Bolch Judicial Institute’s 2024 Raphael Lemkin Rule of Law Guardian Medal for her work in strengthening laws that protect the physical safety of judges and their families, said, “Daniel’s legacy continues through initiatives that protect judges and their families. After losing Daniel, I made it my mission to ensure his death would not be in vain. This fund at the Bolch Judicial Institute will help advance the crucial work of strengthening judicial independence and protection — work that is essential to safeguarding our democracy.”
The Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act, which prohibits the sharing of personal information of federal judges and their families, was enacted in December 2022 after Judge Salas advocated for increased protections following her son’s murder.
About the Bolch Judicial Institute
Established in 2018 with a $10 million gift from Carl Bolch Jr. and Susan Bass Bolch, the Institute provides unique educational opportunities for sitting judges in the United States and around the globe; conducts research and supports teaching and scholarship; and develops civic education initiatives to advance its mission. Among the Institute’s flagship programs are the Master’s in Judicial Studies LLM program; Judicature, Duke’s scholarly journal on judging; conferences and seminars that bring together lawyers, judges, and scholars to examine challenges and develop solutions for improving and advancing the administration of justice; the Bolch Prize for the Rule of Law, which is awarded annually to an individual or organization who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the rule of law and advancing rule of law principles around the world; and the Raphael Lemkin Rule of Law Guardian medal, given annually to an individual who has contributed to the preservation and advancement of the rule of law.