A series of newly filed court documents shed more light on the mind of Nicholas John Roske, a 28-year-old man accused of planning to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Roske’s trial is set to begin on June 9, 2025, in a Maryland U.S. District Court.
Roske faces a serious charge: attempting to kidnap or murder a judge, specifically Justice Kavanaugh, who is a sitting member of the U.S. Supreme Court. The charge stems from an incident outside Kavanaugh’s Maryland home in June 2022.
On January 3, Roske’s lawyers submitted several motions, trying to prevent certain evidence from being used in his trial. They argued that a warrantless search of Roske’s belongings and statements he made to investigators should not be allowed in court. The defense claims that Roske was not properly informed of his rights before being questioned and that his mental health at the time made it impossible for him to give statements knowingly and voluntarily.
According to court documents, Roske admitted to law enforcement that he was struggling with severe mental health issues. He described himself as “actively suicidal” and revealed that his plan was to kill Justice Kavanaugh and then take his own life. He explained his thought process, saying, “I’ve been actively suicidal for a long time now.”
Roske also shared that he had considered other actions, like targeting convicted pedophiles, but ultimately decided against it. He said, “The more I thought about it, the more I realized I wouldn’t actually do anything because the people that were convicted are already on watch.”
Instead, Roske said he believed killing Kavanaugh might have a broader impact. This belief reportedly stemmed from the leaked draft of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that had protected abortion rights. The draft decision deeply upset Roske, leading him to think, as he put it, that “I could make the world a better place by killing him.”
Roske’s frustration with the draft decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case was apparently tied to his views on civil rights. He mentioned wanting to do “something positive” before ending his life.
The court documents also include a transcript of a 911 call Roske made on June 8, 2022, shortly before his arrest. During the call, he told the dispatcher he had traveled from California to Maryland with plans to harm both Kavanaugh and himself. When the dispatcher asked him why he was there, Roske replied, “Just to hurt yourself and him or what was going to happen?” to which he simply said, “Correct.”
This case has drawn significant attention, not just because of the serious charges, but also because of the broader context involving the Supreme Court’s controversial decisions and the emotional reactions they have sparked. As Roske’s trial date approaches, his lawyers continue to argue that his mental health and the circumstances of his arrest should play a key role in determining what evidence is admissible in court.
