In a chilling revelation, federal prosecutors have detailed the motives and actions of Nicholas Roske, the California man who pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in June 2022. According to a recent sentencing memorandum filed with the U.S. district court in Maryland, Roske aimed to kill not just Kavanaugh but three members of the high court in a misguided effort to alter the constitutional order based on his ideological beliefs.
Roske was apprehended near Kavanaugh's residence in Maryland, armed with a handgun, ammunition, a knife, and various tools intended for his assassination plot. In April, he pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to kill or kidnap a Supreme Court justice. Prosecutors are urging the court to impose a sentence of at least 30 years to life in prison, citing that Roske's actions represent a grave affront to the U.S. Constitution and required extensive premeditation.
The detailed memorandum outlines Roske's extensive planning, which included researching and procuring tools necessary for the planned killings. He traveled across the country carrying these items and attempted to erase online evidence of his motives. Prosecutors characterized Roske's objective as an abhorrent form of terrorism, indicating that it strikes at the very heart of the United States Constitution and its judicial system. In their filing, they stated, "No judicial or court official, or their family, should have to live under the fear that they could be gunned down based on a judicial decision."
Roske's online behavior on the social media platform Discord revealed his dangerous mindset. In May 2022, he made several posts referencing the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which was under threat of being overturned. Following the leak of a draft opinion indicating the court's intention to reverse Roe, Roske expressed his desire to eliminate justices to influence the court's decisions, stating, "What do you think would happen if Kavanaugh died?"
In a series of alarming messages, Roske mentioned, "I’m gonna stop Roe v. Wade from being overturned" and expressed a goal of targeting the Supreme Court justices, stating, "I am shooting for 3." His online activity also included disturbing Google searches related to methods of killing and evading law enforcement.
On June 8, 2022, Roske traveled from California to the Washington, D.C. area, arriving at Kavanaugh’s home around 1 a.m. He carried a suitcase containing a Glock 17 pistol, two loaded magazines, and a host of other tools designed for the assassination. Prosecutors noted that Roske even affixed materials to his shoes to muffle his footsteps, showcasing the level of premeditation involved in his plot.
Upon arriving at Kavanaugh's residence, Roske was spotted by a deputy U.S. Marshal guarding the home. Fearing capture, he walked past the house and subsequently called 911 after a lengthy conversation with his sister. Law enforcement arrived and discovered the weapons and tools in his possession. During interrogation, Roske admitted to his intention to kill Kavanaugh and subsequently take his own life, citing the Supreme Court's draft opinion on Roe as a primary motivator.
Prosecutors are advocating for a terrorism enhancement in Roske's sentencing, arguing that his actions were intended to intimidate government officials and alter the judiciary's trajectory. They emphasized that Roske sought to influence the Supreme Court's decisions for "decades to come" through his violent actions. The case has highlighted an alarming trend of increased threats against federal judges, leading to heightened concerns about judicial safety and independence.
As Chief Justice John Roberts noted in a year-end report last December, threats against judges undermine the integrity of the judicial system. Recent interviews with justices like Amy Coney Barrett have revealed that many have faced death threats, illustrating the perilous climate surrounding the nation's judicial officials.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by those in public service, as well as the urgent need for protective measures to safeguard both judges and the judicial process from acts of violence and intimidation.
