DOJ Lays Bare Disturbing Plot to Target Supreme Court Justices

In a newly released sentencing memorandum, federal prosecutors have disclosed chilling new details about Nicholas “Sophie” Roske’s plan to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh — and possibly three other Supreme Court justices. The Department of Justice (DOJ) characterizes the months of planning and preparation as an act of domestic terrorism directed at the heart of America’s judicial branch.

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The Plot Unfolds

Roske, who has pleaded guilty to the attempted assassination charge, allegedly spent months building toward a dramatic, violent act. The DOJ filing describes steps the plotter took in methodical succession: obtaining weapons, conducting reconnaissance, mapping judicial residences, and plotting an approach to Kavanaugh’s home.

In the dossier, prosecutors quote Roske asserting he was “shooting for 3,” implying an ambition to kill multiple justices. A map saved on his device reportedly included addresses of four justices. In the narrative, Roske flew from California to Virginia armed with a Glock 17, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, tactical gear, and other tools suited for an attack. He then took a taxi to Kavanaugh’s neighborhood in Maryland.

Seeing U.S. Marshals near the justice’s residence, Roske is said to have changed direction — calling his sister and 911 before surrendering. Prosecutors contend that his decision to abandon the attempt came only because of the visible security presence, not out of a change of heart.

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Deep Research, Dark Intent

According to the DOJ memorandum, Roske’s preparation was far from impulsive. Internet searches uncovered in the investigation reveal queries such as:

• “Most effective way to silently kill someone”

• “How to break glass quietly”

• “Countries least likely to extradite to the US”

The filings claim Roske purchased his handgun and equipment in late May 2022, practiced at shooting ranges, probed justices’ public records for locations, and attempted to wipe devices and digital trails. In the DOJ’s words, this was not mere planning — it was a deliberate effort to “single‑handedly alter the Constitutional order for ideological ends.”

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Motivations and Context

Investigators link Roske’s motivations to political outrage. The DOJ points to the timing of when the conspiracy evolved — shortly after a leaked draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which would eventually overturn Roe v. Wade. In messages cited by prosecutors, Roske expressed anger at the court’s rulings on abortion and gun rights, asking, in effect, what would happen if a conservative justice were killed.

This context helps the DOJ paint the attack as more than personal grievance—it was a statement, a violent political manifesto aimed at injecting terror and intimidation into the judiciary’s function.

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A 30‑Year Mandate and the Road Ahead

Federal prosecutors are recommending a minimum 30-year sentence for Roske, reflecting the gravity of attempting to assassinate a Supreme Court justice. The DOJ’s arguments emphasize that the severity is not simply in the act itself, but in what such an assault represents: a direct challenge to the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the independence of the judiciary.

The courts now face decisions on how to balance punishment, deterrence, and protection of institutional norms. Roske’s case may become a benchmark for how the U.S. treats ideologically motivated violence against its highest courts.

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Why It Matters

• Judicial Security Threat: Targeting a justice on his home turf underscores vulnerabilities in protections for Supreme Court justices.

• Erosion of Norms: The attempt challenges one of American democracy’s bedrocks—that its courts must remain above intimidation and violence.

• Sentencing Precedent: The DOJ’s push for a decades-long sentence may influence future cases involving extremist violence or attacks on federal institutions.

• Political Overtones: This wasn’t random violence. The prosecution frames it as ideology-laced terrorism, raising the stakes in how political anger is judged when it turns lethal.

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Roske’s attempt, as documented by the DOJ, was neither amateurish nor accidental. What began as months of digital planning, weapons procurement, and behavioral reconnaissance nearly culminated in tragedy. Now, with a 30-year sentence sought and a nation watching, the case may serve as a clarion signal: acts of violence against the judiciary will be met with the full force of law—and the highest courts should remain beyond the reach of bullets, not targets of political anger.