The Justice Department filed a sentencing memo outlining Nicholas “Sophie” Roske’s plot to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh and potentially three other Supreme Court justices, describing the months-long scheme as an act of terrorism against the judiciary.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a minimum 30-year sentence for Roske, who pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate a Supreme Court justice, the DOJ said.
In a memorandum filed Friday in Maryland, prosecutors detailed Roske’s months of preparation, including online research, weapons purchases, and reconnaissance before arriving outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home on June 8, 2022.
Messages quoted in the filing show Roske discussed killing multiple justices, writing that he was “shooting for 3” and noting that “people have killed judges before.” A saved Google map on his device contained what he believed were the addresses of four justices.
Authorities said Roske flew from California to Virginia with a Glock 17, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, tactical gear, and other tools, then took a taxi to Kavanaugh’s neighborhood. He turned away after seeing U.S. marshals outside the home, later calling his sister and 911 before surrendering. Prosecutors argue his decision came only after encountering the visible security presence.
The government’s filing describes methodical preparation that began months earlier. Investigators cite searches such as “most effective way to silently kill someone,” “how to break glass quietly,” and “countries least likely to extradite to the US.”
Prosecutors said Roske bought the handgun and accessories in late May 2022, practiced at a shooting range, researched justices’ addresses, and tried to erase his devices and accounts before traveling. The memo described the scheme as an attempt to “single-handedly alter the Constitutional order for ideological ends.”
The attempt came during national outrage over the leaked draft opinion in Dobbs, which weeks later overturned Roe v. Wade. Prosecutors said Roske was motivated by anger over abortion and gun cases, citing messages in which he asked what would happen if a conservative justice died.