Man who attempted to assassinate Kavanaugh now identifies as a woman, court filing shows

A man who pleaded guilty to attempting to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022 is now using a female name in a court filing as sentencing approaches. The Department of Justice is seeking a 30-year sentence, with a sentencing date set for Oct. 3.

In a filing prepared ahead of the sentencing, the defendant is identified as “Sophie Roske” and referred to with a Ms. title and female pronouns for the first time in a court document in a case that has stretched for three years. A footnote within the filing states that Nicholas remains the defendant’s legal first name, and adds that “Out of respect for Ms. Roske, the balance of this pleading and counsel’s in-court argument will refer to her as Sophie and use female pronouns.” The document did not specify whether Roske is undergoing any gender-transition treatments. A Fox News Digital request to the defense team for comment was not immediately returned.

Roske arrived at Kavanaugh’s residence on June 8, 2022, armed with a pistol and ammunition, a knife, a crowbar and tactical gear. He called 9-1-1 and surrendered after observing U.S. marshals gathered outside the justice’s home. The incident occurred roughly two weeks before the Supreme Court’s landmark decision overturning Roe v. Wade, a ruling that drew protests and heightened security around several justices’ residences in the weeks leading up to the decision.

Federal prosecutors have said the defendant researched and targeted multiple members of the judiciary with the intent of altering the Supreme Court’s composition for ideological reasons. The sentencing memorandum notes that he has struggled with mental health issues for about a decade, including thoughts of violently harming others, and has received treatment, though prosecutors did not detail the treatments in public filings. They emphasized that the mental health issues do not excuse the crime but underscore the severity of the offense.

The Department of Justice’s filing comes as the case enters its final stage, with sentencing on the horizon and a public record that continues to unfold. Prosecutors described the crime as an attempted murder of a sitting justice and argued that a substantial prison term is warranted to reflect the gravity of the attack and the intent to disrupt the judiciary.

The investigation and its motives remain under review, and authorities have stressed that the case is ongoing. Officials did not speculate about broader motives beyond what is documented in the charging and sentencing materials. The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on any gender-related health treatments Roske may have received, citing privacy and safety concerns for incarcerated individuals.

As the sentencing date approaches, observers are watching how the court will reconcile the defendant’s evolving gender label with the legal realities of the case. The legal system will also weigh the defendant’s mental health history, the threat level posed by the act, and the impact on the family of the targeted justice—and on public faith in the judiciary.

The broader political and legal context around the case continues to be a topic of discussion in national media and commentary, particularly in relation to court security, gun access, and the heightened scrutiny of the Supreme Court in the era of high-stakes legal battles. While prosecutors have framed this as a straightforward case of attempted violence against a federal judge, the evolving labeling of the defendant and the ongoing investigation into motive reflect the complex interplay of crime, gender identity discourse, and political contention in U.S. politics.