Calif. Man Faces Guilty Plea In Kavanaugh Murder Attempt

US Supreme Court building with American flag

Nicholas Roske, who traveled to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home with a gun and tactical gear in 2022, now plans to plead guilty to attempted assassination without a plea deal with prosecutors.

Quick Takes

California resident Nicholas Roske will plead guilty to attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a crime carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Roske traveled from California to Maryland in June 2022 with weapons including a gun and knife, but called 911 on himself before carrying out his plan.
His motivation stemmed from anger over the leaked Roe v. Wade decision and fears about Kavanaugh’s stance on gun control following the Uvalde school shooting.
A hearing is scheduled for April 7th or 8th in Greenbelt, Maryland, where Roske will formally enter his plea without an agreement with federal prosecutors.

Planned Guilty Plea for Attempted Murder

Nicholas Roske, a 26-year-old man from Simi Valley, California, has announced through his attorneys his intention to plead guilty to attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in June 2022. The announcement came in a letter to Judge Deborah Bordman from Roske’s public defenders, Andrew Szekely and Ellie Marranzini, who stated clearly their client’s position on the matter. “We write to inform the Court that Mr. Roske wishes to plead guilty to the one-count Indictment pending against him,” wrote Roske’s attorneys as reported by Fox News.

Originally scheduled for trial on June 9th, Roske’s case will now proceed with a hearing recommended for April 7th or 8th in Greenbelt, Maryland. The decision to plead guilty comes without any plea agreement with federal prosecutors, an unusual move that leaves Roske facing the maximum possible penalties for his crime – including life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervised release.

Nicholas Roske of California intends to plead guilty to federal criminal charge in connection with the 2022 attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Maryland

According to new court filing, a plea agreement hearing could happen as early as Monday

— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) April 2, 2025

The Abandoned Assassination Attempt

Court records detail how Roske traveled across the country from California to Maryland with the specific intent to kill Justice Kavanaugh at his home. Armed with a tactical chest rig, a Glock 17 pistol with two magazines and ammunition, a knife, pepper spray, zip ties, and other tools, Roske arrived near Kavanaugh’s residence dressed in black. The gravity of his intentions was matched only by the arsenal he brought with him to carry out the deed.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, Roske abandoned his plan upon arriving near the Justice’s home. Instead of proceeding with his deadly mission, he called both his sister and 911, essentially turning himself in before any harm could be done. When police arrested him, Roske admitted that he had traveled to Maryland specifically to kill Kavanaugh in an effort to “make the world a better place,” as he told authorities.

Political Motivations Behind the Plot

Roske’s motivations were deeply rooted in political grievances and current events that had dominated national headlines in the spring of 2022. According to court documents, he was particularly disturbed by the leaked draft Supreme Court decision that signaled the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights case. This leak occurred just weeks before Roske made his journey to Maryland, inflaming tensions nationwide about reproductive rights.

Additionally, Roske told investigators he was angered by the Uvalde, Texas school massacre that had claimed 21 lives, and feared that Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws in upcoming Supreme Court decisions. In his disturbing calculation, Roske believed that killing Kavanaugh could influence the Court’s decisions for decades, showing a chilling awareness of the long-term impact Supreme Court appointments have on American jurisprudence.

Mental Health and Legal Consequences

During his interview with law enforcement, Roske revealed he had been experiencing both suicidal and homicidal thoughts and intended “to act on them.” This admission points to serious mental health issues that likely played a role in his decision to target a Supreme Court Justice. Whether these factors will influence sentencing remains to be seen, but they provide context for understanding the troubled mindset that led to this alarming plot.

The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about the security of public officials, particularly Supreme Court justices who have found themselves increasingly in the political crosshairs during times of heightened polarization. President Trump has repeatedly emphasized the importance of protecting judicial independence and the physical safety of judges and justices, especially those who make controversial rulings on divisive issues facing the nation.

With Roske’s formal plea expected in early April, this case will soon reach its legal conclusion, though its implications for judicial security and the toxic nature of political discourse in America will likely resonate far beyond the courtroom.