GREENBELT, MD – A California man who traveled across the country armed and prepared to assassinate a sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, federal officials announced Friday.
Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a Supreme Court Justice after admitting he traveled to Maryland in June 2022 with a gun, ammunition, and burglary tools.
The Department of Justice had pushed for a sentence of at least 30 years to life, calling the court’s decision “woefully insufficient.”
Justice Department to appeal sentence
Attorney General Pamela Bondi condemned the sentence as a failure to match the seriousness of the crime, calling Roske’s plan “a disgusting attack against our entire judicial system.” She confirmed that the Justice Department intends to appeal the ruling, arguing that the facts of the case warranted a far longer prison term.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Roske’s actions represented an attack on democracy itself, emphasizing that “violence against federal judges or other public officials is unacceptable and will be met by the full force of the law.”
Detailed plot to assassinate Justice
According to court records, Roske flew from Los Angeles International Airport to Dulles International Airport on June 7, 2022, with a firearm, ammunition, and a collection of tactical gear in his checked luggage. He then took a taxi to Montgomery County, Maryland, and arrived near the home of a Supreme Court Justice shortly after 1 a.m.
Roske was dressed in dark clothing and carried a suitcase and backpack containing a gun, zip ties, pepper spray, a hammer, screwdrivers, a tactical knife, duct tape, lock-picking tools, and other equipment. Two Deputy U.S. Marshals stationed outside the residence observed his arrival. Moments later, Roske called 911, saying he was experiencing suicidal and homicidal thoughts and admitting he had flown from California “to kill a specific Supreme Court Justice.”
Motive tied to leaked court decision
During an interview after his arrest, Roske told investigators he was upset about a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on abortion and a recent mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. He confessed he had planned to break into the Justice’s home and use the firearm “to shoot” the Associate Justice.
Federal prosecutors said the case demonstrated the continuing threat of politically motivated violence against public officials. “No public servant, let alone a Justice, should have to consider his safety or that of his family’s in discharging his duty,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.
Law enforcement agencies praised for swift response
The FBI’s Baltimore Field Office led the investigation with support from the U.S. Marshals Service, Montgomery County Police Department, Supreme Court Police Department, and FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
Despite the sentence falling short of prosecutors’ request, officials said the case reaffirmed the government’s resolve to protect the judiciary from violence and intimidation.
