California Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of Supreme Court Justice in Maryland

A California man has admitted to attempting to kill a sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice, culminating a nearly three-year investigation into an unprecedented threat against the nation’s judiciary. Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, California, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland. He now faces the possibility of life in prison following his admitted plot to assassinate a Justice outside their Maryland residence.

According to federal prosecutors, Roske traveled from Los Angeles to the Washington, D.C., area on June 7, 2022, carrying a firearm and ammunition in his checked luggage. After arriving at Dulles International Airport, he took a taxi to Montgomery County, Maryland. Armed with a pistol, tactical gear, and tools commonly used in break-ins, Roske approached the home of the Justice during the early morning hours of June 8. His arrival was observed by Deputy U.S. Marshals stationed outside the residence as part of ongoing security measures.

Authorities say Roske then contacted emergency services, admitting to having suicidal and homicidal thoughts and revealing his plan to kill the Justice. He was taken into custody by local police shortly afterward. A subsequent search of his belongings revealed a detailed array of weapons and tools, including a tactical vest, ammunition, zip ties, and burglary equipment.

Roske later told law enforcement that his motivations stemmed from outrage over a leaked draft opinion related to abortion and his reaction to a recent mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. He admitted that he intended to use the firearm and tools he brought to carry out the attack. He was read his rights and cooperated with investigators, who said the plot appeared calculated and premeditated.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 3 before U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman. The case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Montgomery County Police Department, and the Supreme Court Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Sullivan and Coreen Mao are prosecuting the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland.

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