Nicholas Roske Faces 30-Year Sentence for Attempted Kavanaugh Assassination
Nicholas Roske, who now identifies as a transgender woman, faces a 30-year prison sentence for attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in June 2022, motivated by court rulings.
DOJ seeks 30-year prison sentence for attempted Kavanaugh assassin
Washington Examiner
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Overview
- Nicholas Roske was arrested in June 2022 near Justice Kavanaugh's home, armed with weapons and tools, intending to assassinate him and potentially other justices.
- Roske pleaded guilty in April 2025 to attempting to kill a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, with sentencing scheduled for October 3.
- Prosecutors are seeking a 30-year to life prison sentence, describing Roske's actions as a pre-planned, cold-blooded murder attempt.
- Roske was motivated by the Supreme Court's expected ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization and gun cases.
- Roske now identifies as a transgender woman named Sophie Roske, and defense attorneys cite a decade of severe mental health issues.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the DOJ's sentencing request for Nicholas Roske with factual reporting, focusing on the legal proceedings and the prosecutors' arguments. They present the details of Roske's actions and motivations as reported by authorities, maintaining an objective tone without employing loaded language or overt editorial bias in their own narration.
"The defendant's objective — to target and kill judges to seek to alter a court's ruling — is an abhorrent form of terrorism and strikes at the core of the United States Constitution and our prescribed system of government."
CBS News"The government also argued the crime was not a snap decision or “a bad judgment in a moment of weakness.”"
Roll CallArticles (12)
FAQ
Nicholas Roske, now identifying as Sophie Roske, attempted to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh in June 2022. He was motivated by opposition to the Supreme Court's expected ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which could overturn Roe v. Wade, as well as concerns over gun rights.
Nicholas Roske was found near Justice Kavanaugh's home armed with a gun, a knife, a can of pepper spray, and other weapons and tools intended to carry out the assassination.
Roske was arrested in June 2022 and initially pleaded not guilty. On April 8, 2025, he changed his plea to guilty to the charge of attempting to kill a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. His sentencing is scheduled for October 3, 2025, with prosecutors seeking 30 years to life in prison.
Nicholas Roske has publicly identified as a transgender woman named Sophie Roske during the legal proceedings, and defense attorneys have noted a history of severe mental health issues over the past decade.
Roske intended to kill three conservative Supreme Court justices with the goal of allowing three liberal justices to be appointed, thereby changing the Supreme Court's dynamics for decades.
History
- This story does not have any previous versions.