Simi Valley Resident Sentenced to Over 8 Years for Plot t...

A Simi Valley, California, resident has been sentenced to 97 months—just over eight years—in federal prison for the attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. Nicholas John Roske, 29, who now goes by Sophie Roske and identifies as a transgender woman, received the sentence on Friday from U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman in a Maryland federal court. The sentence also includes a lifetime of supervised release. The punishment is significantly less than the minimum of 30 years prosecutors from the Department of Justice had sought, prompting an announcement from Attorney General Pamela Bondi that the government will appeal the "woefully insufficient sentence." Roske pleaded guilty in April 2025 to one count of attempting to murder a Justice of the United States, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The case dates back to the early morning hours of June 8, 2022, a period of intense political division following the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion that signaled the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Roske flew from California to the Washington, D.C., area and took a taxi to Justice Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, arriving after 1 a.m. In a suitcase, Roske carried a Glock 17 pistol, two magazines with ammunition, a tactical knife, zip ties, a crowbar, duct tape, and other burglary tools. After exiting the taxi, Roske spotted two Deputy U.S. Marshals guarding the residence, walked away, and called 911. In recordings of the calls, Roske told the dispatcher of having suicidal and homicidal thoughts, stated a need for psychiatric help, and revealed the plan to kill the justice before being taken into custody without incident by Montgomery County police.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Boardman acknowledged the "reprehensible" nature of the crime but also pointed to mitigating factors, including Roske's decision to abandon the plot and self-report by calling 911. The judge stated, "I believe Ms. Roske understands that what she did was terribly wrong. I find her remorse sincere." Roske's defense attorneys argued for an eight-year sentence, highlighting their client's history of severe depression and mental health struggles. Prosecutors, however, argued that the act was a form of terrorism intended to alter the court's composition and rulings for decades. In court filings, they revealed Roske had researched multiple justices and wrote in a message, "I am shooting for 3." In a statement before the court, Roske apologized to the Kavanaugh family, saying, "I have been portrayed as a monster, and this tragic mistake that I made will follow me for the rest of my life."

Timeline of the Incident: The plot unfolded during a period of high political tension. After the draft opinion in the *Dobbs* case was leaked in May 2022, Roske began extensive online research. On June 7, 2022, Roske flew from California to Dulles International Airport. In the early hours of June 8, Roske arrived at Justice Kavanaugh's home, saw security, walked away, and called 911 to turn herself in. Roske was indicted, pleaded not guilty, but later changed the plea to guilty in April 2025, leading to the sentencing on October 3, 2025.
The Perpetrator's Motive and Background: According to an FBI affidavit, Roske told investigators of being upset by the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on abortion and the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Roske stated a belief that killing a conservative justice would "give her life some meaning." Defense attorneys noted Roske was struggling with mental illness and gender identity, having come out as a transgender woman in 2020.
The 911 Call That Led to Arrest: In a rare turn of events for such a crime, the perpetrator initiated contact with law enforcement. In two calls to a 911 dispatcher, Roske sounded distressed, admitted to having suicidal and homicidal thoughts, and said, "I came from California over here to act on them." Roske informed the dispatcher about the firearm in a locked suitcase and cooperated fully upon the arrival of police, which Judge Boardman cited as a key reason for the more lenient sentence.
The Legal Case and Sentencing Disparity: Roske pleaded guilty to "attempting to assassinate a Justice of the United States," which carries a maximum sentence of life. Prosecutors sought a minimum of 30 years, arguing the act was terrorism designed to intimidate the judiciary. However, Judge Boardman sentenced Roske to 97 months, or just over eight years, citing Roske's remorse, cooperation, and lack of criminal history as significant mitigating factors. The Department of Justice immediately announced its intention to appeal the sentence.
A National Rise in Threats Against Judges: This case highlights a disturbing trend of increased threats against the judiciary. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, threats and inappropriate communications targeting federal court employees quadrupled from 926 incidents in 2015 to 4,511 in 2021. In his 2024 year-end report, Chief Justice John Roberts warned of rising dangers facing judicial officers from violence and intimidation. The incident involving Roske has been cited as a prime example of this escalating threat environment.
Legislative Response for Judicial Security: The attempt on Justice Kavanaugh's life prompted swift legislative action. In the weeks prior to the incident, protests had already begun outside the homes of several justices following the *Dobbs* leak. In response to the growing security concerns, Congress passed the Supreme Court Police Parity Act, which President Biden signed into law on June 16, 2022. The bipartisan bill grants the Supreme Court Police authority to provide security for the immediate family members of justices if the Marshal of the Supreme Court deems it necessary.