Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

US man charged with attempted murder of top judge

US man charged with attempted murder of top judge

A California man is facing a charge of attempted murder after his arrest near the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Nicholas John Roske, 26, had planned to murder a Supreme Court justice and was armed with a pistol and tactical knife, court documents said.

The suspect was taken into custody at about 01:00 local time (06:00 BST).

Protection for the justices has been beefed up ahead of a landmark ruling on US abortion rights.

According to an affidavit filed in US District Court, Roske was spotted by two US Deputy Marshals while getting out of a taxi in front of a Supreme Court justice's home.

Carrying a suitcase and a backpack, Roske turned to walk down the street.

Soon after, local emergency services took a call from a man who identified himself as Roske.

Roske said he was having suicidal thoughts, had a gun and had come from California to "kill a specific United States Supreme Court justice". Local police officers were sent to the justice's home and arrested Roske.

According to the Washington Post, Justice Kavanaugh and his family were at home at the time of the arrest.

While in custody, Roske said he was "upset" about the leaked Supreme Court document on abortion, as well as the recent mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, according to the affidavit.

He said he believed Justice Kavanaugh might issue rulings that would loosen gun control regulations.

Roske was found to have a Glock 17 pistol, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, screwdriver, crowbar and duct tape.

He was asked a series of question by a judge during a brief court appearance on Wednesday afternoon, including whether he was thinking clearly when he was arrested.

"I think I have a reasonable understanding, but I wouldn't say I'm thinking clearly," he responded, confirming that he was a college graduate and had been taking an unspecified medication.

He is expected back in court on 22 June.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for attempted murder of a United States judge, though actual sentences for federal crimes are usually less than the maximum penalties.

A White House spokeswoman said President Biden "condemns" the action of the individual who threatened the justice.

In May, a leaked draft decision from the top court in the US suggested it would overturn Roe v Wade - the landmark 1973 case that guaranteed abortion access across the US.

The draft ruling spurred protests nationwide, including some peaceful demonstrations outside the homes of some of the nine justices on the court.

Last month, a group of about 100 people marched from the home of Justice Kavanaugh to Chief Justice John Roberts' home nearby. Both justices are conservative and seen as potentially supportive of curtailing abortion rights.

The protests led Washington lawmakers to introduce legislation to Congress that would increase protections for Supreme Court justices. The legislation has passed the Senate, but has not yet been taken up by the House of Representatives.

One Democratic senator involved in negotiations on the proposed bill said that the remaining sticking points are over the scope of who will be protected. Democrats say that other employees of the top court, who are not judges, also deserve enhanced security, Senator Chris Coons told CNN on Wednesday.

In the aftermath of the draft ruling leak last month, the US Marshals Service has been providing "around-the-clock security" outside the homes of all nine justices, according to the Department of Justice.

Senate Republicans blamed Wednesday's attempted attack on Democratic rhetoric.

They pointed to remarks by Senator Chuck Schumer in March 2020 in which he warned Justice Kavanaugh and another Trump-nominated conservative justice "you will pay the price" and "you won't know what hit you" if they voted to undo abortion protections.

Mr Schumer apologised the next day and denied he was threatening the judges.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×