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

Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, California, pled guilty to attempting to kill a United States Supreme Court Justice.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Attorney General Pamela Bondi; FBI Director Kash Patel; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Clinton J. Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland; Chief Marc Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Deputy Chief of Police Stephanie N. Whitam, Supreme Court of the United States Police Department.

“This calculated attempt on the life of a sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice was a heinous attack on the Court itself,” Bondi said. “Anyone who thinks they can use violence or intimidation to influence our courts will be met with the full force of the law and face up to life in prison.”

“The attempted assassination of a United States Supreme Court Justice is an extreme, brazen act, one that we — along with our federal, local, and state law-enforcement partners — will not tolerate,” Hayes said. “It’s through these partnerships that we’re able to hold criminals accountable and uphold the rule of law.  We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting those who are involved in planning and executing acts of violence against others.”

“Nicholas Roske sought to commit a despicable, premeditated attack on a Supreme Court Justice and today is another step toward accountability,” Patel said. “No violent attacks can be tolerated, whether those targeted are public officials or private citizens – and the FBI and our partners will aggressively investigate and bring to justice all those who engage in such plots.”

“After a thorough investigation, Nicholas Roske is being held accountable for plotting, planning, and taking steps to assassinate a United States Supreme Court Justice. This guilty plea makes clear that those actions have serious consequences,” DelBagno said. “The FBI’s partnerships with the Montgomery County Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service and Supreme Court of the United States Police Department were critical in bringing Roske to justice. We will not stop our pursuit of extremists who advocate violence and threaten others.”

As part of his guilty plea, Roske admitted that on June 7, 2022, he flew from Los Angeles International Airport to Dulles International Airport with a firearm and ammunition in his checked baggage. He then took a taxi from the airport to Montgomery County, Maryland, with the intent to kill the Supreme Court Justice.

According to the criminal complaint and the Government’s factual allegations, on June 8, 2022, at approximately 1:05 a.m., two Deputy U.S. Marshals, protecting the residence of a Supreme Court Justice, observed Roske arrive in and get out of a taxi in front of the residence.  Roske wore black clothing and had a backpack and suitcase.  Upon observing Roske, the two Deputy U.S. Marshals started to get out of their vehicles as the defendant proceeded to walk down the street.

Shortly after, Roske told a Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center call taker that he was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, had a gun in his suitcase, and flew from California to kill a specific Supreme Court Justice. 

Montgomery County Police Department officers responded to the location and took Roske into custody.  A search of Roske’s suitcase and backpack revealed a firearm; black tactical chest rig and tactical knife; two magazines, each containing 10 rounds of ammunition; 17 additional rounds of ammunition; pepper spray; zip ties; a hammer; screwdrivers; nail punch; crowbar; pistol light; duct tape; hiking boots with padding on the outside of the soles; and lock-pick tools, along with other items.

Law enforcement transported Roske to a Montgomery County Police Department station where he was read his Miranda rights. Roske then stated that he was upset about a recently leaked Supreme Court draft decision on abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The defendant also admitted that he came from California with the intent to use the firearm and burglary tools and to kill the Supreme Court Justice.

Roske faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman scheduled sentencing for Friday, Oct. 3, at 10 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, MCPD, and the Supreme Court of the United States Police Department for their work and cooperation in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Sullivan and Coreen Mao who are prosecuting the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and its efforts to fight violent crime and protect national security, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr.

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