WASHINGTON — A man from California is preparing to plead guilty to a charge of attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his residence in a suburb outside of the capital. In a recent court filing, the defendant’s legal representation confirmed that Nicholas John Roske, who hails from Simi Valley, California, will change his plea regarding the incident that transpired nearly three years ago.
Roske was apprehended near Justice Kavanaugh’s house in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in June 2022. He was discovered carrying a firearm and a knife, equipped with zip ties, and dressed entirely in black when he arrived in the area via taxi shortly after 1 a.m., according to federal officials. At the time, Roske was 26 years old.
According to his attorneys, Roske intends to plead guilty to the charge of attempting to murder a Justice of the United States. This stands irrespective of finalizing any plea agreement with the federal prosecution team. The serious charge could lead to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Roske’s legal representatives have urged a judge in Greenbelt, Maryland, to arrange a hearing either on the coming Monday or Tuesday, allowing him to officially enter his guilty plea. They noted that the prosecutors have consented to this request, facilitating a timely court appearance.
Details of Roske’s arrest reveal that he expressed distress over a leaked draft opinion hinting at the Supreme Court’s intention to overturn Roe v. Wade, the pivotal case in the abortion debate. In a communication with authorities, Roske conveyed that assassinating one justice could shift the dynamics of the court, which comprises nine justices, affecting substantial decisions “for decades to come.” He allegedly wrote, “I am shooting for three.”
The draft leak led to significant protests, including demonstrations at several justices’ homes. Following Roske’s arrest, the House passed a bill ensuring around-the-clock security measures for the justices’ families, responding to growing concerns about their safety.
Further motivations for Roske’s actions reportedly included his discontent with the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and his belief that Justice Kavanaugh might support relaxed gun control laws, as per the affidavit.
Roske was detained following his own 911 call, where he informed the dispatcher that he was near Kavanaugh’s residence and intended to end his life. During the incident, two U.S. marshals, assigned to the justices’ 24-hour security detail, noticed and detained him. A trial date for Roske had been scheduled for June 9.
In an October 2022 hearing, U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte indicated a strong likelihood that a mental evaluation would be ordered for Roske. This evaluation would ascertain his competence to aid his defense, submit a guilty plea appropriately, or face trial. However, in a preceding August hearing, Roske’s lawyer, Andrew Szekely, mentioned that the defense does not plan to request a court-ordered mental assessment.
The case was subsequently assigned to U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman following Judge Messitte’s passing in January due to a brief illness. This case continues to hold critical significance for legal proceedings and national security concerns in judicial protection matters.