The Justice Department is asking a federal judge to sentence the man who tried to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to a minimum of 30 years in prison, calling the plot a politically motivated and “disturbed” attempt to alter the makeup of the nation’s highest court.
In a sentencing memorandum filed Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland cited the scope of Nicholas John Roske’s plan to murder up to three Supreme Court justices in hopes of changing future rulings on abortion and gun rights.
“This attempt against the life of a Supreme Court Justice was an attack on the entire judicial system that cannot go unpunished,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “This Department of Justice condemns political violence and our prosecutors will ensure that this disturbed individual faces severe consequences for his deranged actions.”
Roske, 29, pleaded guilty in April to one count of attempted assassination of a Supreme Court justice. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3 before U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, an appointee of former President Joe Biden.
The government’s filing describes Roske’s plot as ideologically driven and methodically planned. “In the spring of 2022, the defendant meticulously researched, planned, and attempted to assassinate at least one — but had a stated target of three — sitting judges of the United States Supreme Court,” the memo states. “The defendant’s explicit objective was to single-handedly alter the Constitutional order for ideological ends. … The defendant’s own words show that the defendant was ‘shooting for 3’ assassinations.”
Roske was arrested outside Kavanaugh’s Maryland home in the early morning of June 8, 2022, after he called 911 on himself. Authorities recovered a Glock 17 pistol, zip ties, duct tape, a knife, a crowbar, and other tactical gear in his possession.
Federal prosecutors have said Roske used an encrypted messaging app, Discord, to send threats in the days leading up to the attack. In one message, he wrote: “I could get at least one, which would change the votes for decades to come. And I am shooting for 3.”
Discord has drawn national attention in recent months, especially as federal agents investigate individuals who were part of the same chat group as the suspect accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week. A congressional hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 8 with CEOs of video game-adjacent social media companies, including Discord, Valve, Reddit, and Twitch, to learn more about whether there is any association between these apps and violent political extremism, and if there are any measures Congress can take to address harmful rhetoric on these platforms.
Roske told officers he was motivated by the Supreme Court’s expected ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which was previewed in a leaked draft opinion published by Politico in May 2022. The final decision to overturn Roe v. Wade came weeks later.
Also on Friday, Roske’s legal team informed the court that he now identifies as a transgender woman and is requesting to be referred to as Sophie Roske, with female pronouns. While the filing is new, Roske had previously called himself a “trans gamer girl” and used the name Sophie in Reddit posts prior to the attack.
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Roske’s plea came without a sentencing agreement, allowing prosecutors to request the full 30-year term. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. During his April hearing, Roske calmly affirmed his mental competency, said he was receiving treatment for mental illness.
The Supreme Court has faced heightened security concerns since the Dobbs leak, and Roske’s arrest has remained one of the most serious threats against a sitting justice in modern history.