29-Year-Old California Man Confesses to Kavanaugh Assassination Attempt
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Photo by Fred Schilling. Public domain.
A California man has admitted to plotting the assassination of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh — and has now pleaded guilty in federal court. The chilling incident, which happened nearly three years ago, was driven by political rage and unraveled just steps from the justice's home after the man made a call to 911 while armed with an arsenal of weapons.
The Plot and the Arrest
In 2022, Nicholas John Roske, a 29-year-old from Simi Valley, California, traveled to the Maryland home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh with deadly intentions. He arrived by taxi around 1:50 a.m., dressed in black and carrying a backpack and suitcase. But after spotting deputy U.S. Marshals stationed outside the residence, Roske turned away and called 911, telling the operator he was suicidal and had planned to kill the justice.
He told the dispatcher he had a firearm and wanted to kill Kavanaugh. Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department arrived as he remained on the phone and arrested him without incident.
Arsenal of Weapons
Inside Roske's bags, officers discovered a small arsenal: a Glock 17 pistol, two magazines loaded with ammunition, a tactical police vest, tactical knife, zip ties, pepper spray, and burglary tools — including a hammer, crowbar, duct tape, screwdriver, pistol light, and padded boots for quiet movement.
The Motive: Roe v. Wade and Gun Laws
Roske's plan was fueled by the leaked draft opinion signaling the Supreme Court's potential overturning of Roe v. Wade and his belief that Kavanaugh would support loosening gun restrictions. Prosecutors said Roske hoped the murder of the jurist would "give his life purpose" and prevent further conservative rulings, as reported by The New York Post.
Prosecutors pointed to a series of encrypted messages where Roske revealed both his anger over the leaked Supreme Court draft and his plans for violence. In one exchange, according to The New York Post, he wrote, "People have killed judges before. I'm gonna stop roe v wade from being overturned." In another message, he laid out the chilling scope of his plan: "Killing one jurist could change the decisions of the nine-member court for decades to come ... I am shooting for three," as reported by the Associated Press.
Additionally, he told authorities he was upset by the Uvalde school shooting, in which an assailant gunned down 19 students and two teachers while wounding 17 others, intensifying his feelings of despair and urgency toward his murder plot.
Mental Fitness Raised, But Not Challenged
Questions about Roske's mental state surfaced early in the proceedings. During his initial appearance in federal court in Greenbelt, he hesitated when asked a series of routine questions by U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan. When asked if he understood what was happening and if he was thinking clearly, Roske paused before responding, "I think I have a reasonable understanding, but I wouldn't say I'm thinking clearly," as reported by The New York Post. He also mentioned that he was a college graduate and was taking medication, though he didn't specify what type or for what reason and agreed to remain in federal custody.
Later, in an October 2022 hearing, U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte said there was a "very high likelihood" he would order a mental evaluation to determine Roske's competency to assist in his defense, enter a plea, or stand trial, as reported by the AP. However, by August the following year, Roske's attorney, Andrew Szekely, stated the defense was not requesting such an evaluation, indicating they believed he was fit to move forward.
Legal Consequences
On April 8, 2025, Roske pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate a U.S. Supreme Court justice, a charge that carries up to life in prison. He entered the plea without any deal from prosecutors. Sentencing guidelines suggest a term of 30 years to life, and his formal sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3, 2025.
References: Man who had gun and knife will plead guilty to trying to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh | Brett Kavanaugh's wannabe assassin admits to trying to kill the justice — because he was angry over abortion rights | Armed man Nicholas Roske arrested near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home
