
In June 2022, Nicholas Roske traveled from California to Maryland with a plan to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Court filings reveal that Roske found Kavanaugh’s home address through media coverage of protests outside the justice’s house, which included images revealing the location. Armed with weapons and burglary tools, Roske called 911 on himself before carrying out his plan, telling the dispatcher he needed psychiatric help.
Roske’s motivations were rooted in a combination of political frustration and personal mental health struggles. He expressed anger over the leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision later finalized in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. “I was under the delusion that I could make the world a better place by killing him,” Roske reportedly told detectives, describing his plan as a misguided effort to find purpose.
The situation sheds light on the media’s role in amplifying tensions. Following the leak of the draft opinion in May 2022, radical groups shared the addresses of conservative Supreme Court justices, urging activists to protest outside their homes. This call to action coincided with federal authorities’ failure to enforce a law prohibiting picketing or parading near judges’ residences to influence decisions. Despite requests from Maryland and Virginia governors, Attorney General Merrick Garland declined to prosecute violators of the statute.
Court filings reveal Roske’s lengthy struggle with mental health issues. He described feelings of purposelessness and had considered other harmful acts before settling on his plan to target Kavanaugh. Roske reportedly envisioned breaking into Kavanaugh’s home, shooting him, and then taking his own life. His mental instability was evident in his 911 call, where he admitted to suicidal thoughts and detailed the contents of his suitcase, which included a firearm, pepper spray, a knife, and tools.
The leaked draft opinion on abortion, which Roske cited as a catalyst for his actions, had sparked widespread outrage and protests nationwide. Conservative activists had warned early on that the leak could lead to violence against justices. In an editorial published shortly after the leak, the Wall Street Journal editorial board cautioned that an “abortion fanatic” might act out in an attempt to disrupt the court’s decision-making process.
More than two years after the leak, the Supreme Court has not identified the individual responsible, leaving lingering questions about internal security and accountability within the nation’s highest court. Roske’s trial is scheduled to begin on June 9, further highlighting the ongoing challenges in addressing threats to judicial safety and the broader implications of political discord.
The case underscores a series of failures—from media outlets exposing sensitive information to federal authorities’ reluctance to act on existing laws meant to protect judges. At the same time, it serves as a grim reminder of the escalating tensions that surround divisive political issues and the dangerous consequences of unchecked rhetoric.
Ensuring the safety of public officials is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative. The stability of the United States’ democratic institutions depends on the ability of its leaders to perform their duties free from intimidation or harm. This incident illustrates the need for a broader societal reckoning on the consequences of political extremism and the unchecked dissemination of personal information.