Man Who Tried to Assassinate Supreme Court Justice Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Prison

Nicholas Roske, a California man who planned to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, was sentenced to eight years and one month in federal prison, with lifelong supervised release. Roske, who now identifies as a transgender woman named “Sophie,” was charged after being arrested outside Kavanaugh’s Maryland home in June 2022. He carried a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, pepper spray, and other tools, citing outrage over the leaked draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade as motivation.

Roske boarded a taxi from Dulles Airport to Kavanaugh’s residence but abandoned his plan after noticing law enforcement presence. Shortly after, he called 911, expressing suicidal and homicidal thoughts, and requested psychiatric help. During sentencing, Roske issued an apology to Kavanaugh and the court, acknowledging the fear he inflicted and expressing remorse for his actions.

Prosecutors revealed that Roske had extensively researched justices and firearms, with over 60 searches about three Supreme Court justices and more than 100 about guns. He also sent messages indicating a desire to target the court, driven by his fury over potential rulings on Roe v. Wade and same-sex marriage. He had searched for ways to avoid leaving evidence and had expressed intentions to commit violence during his taxi ride.

Defense attorneys highlighted Roske’s history of mental health struggles, including prior depression and a suicide attempt in 2014. They argued that his mental state and cooperation after arrest should mitigate his sentence. Roske’s legal team also revealed that he publicly came out as transgender in 2020 and underwent gender-reassignment procedures while incarcerated.

Last month, Roske’s legal representatives began referring to him as “Sophie Roske” and used female pronouns in court documents, despite no legal change to his name. Concerns regarding his access to hormone therapy or placement in facilities aligned with his gender identity were discussed in court, influenced by federal policies affected by recent executive orders.