Overview

• Nicholas John Roske, 29, pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, avoiding a trial previously scheduled for June.
• Roske cited anger over a leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade and concerns about gun control as motivations for his premeditated plot.
• He traveled from California to Maryland with a gun, knife, zip ties, and burglary tools but called 911 and surrendered after experiencing suicidal and homicidal thoughts.
• U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman accepted Roske’s guilty plea, with sentencing guidelines suggesting a term of 30 years to life in prison.
• The case heightened security concerns for Supreme Court justices, prompting expanded protections for justices and their families.