The individual who pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022 is now identifying as female, according to a court document filed on Friday.
Nicholas Roske, who is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, is being referred to in the document as “Sophie Roske” and addressed with the title “Ms.” for the first time. A footnote in the filing notes that Roske’s legal first name remains Nicholas, but adds: “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 filing was a standard procedural request ahead of Roske’s upcoming sentencing. It does not provide any details about whether Roske is undergoing gender transition or receiving related treatments. When contacted, Roske’s defense team did not comment on the name and pronoun usage.
Roske was arrested on June 8, 2022, outside Justice Kavanaugh’s home, carrying a firearm, ammunition, a knife, a crowbar, and tactical gear. According to authorities, Roske turned himself in after calling 911, following a phone conversation with his sister and upon seeing U.S. Marshals stationed at the justice’s residence.
The incident occurred just weeks before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade—a highly anticipated ruling that had sparked widespread demonstrations outside the homes of conservative justices.
Federal prosecutors are recommending a 30-year sentence. In their sentencing memo, they cite Roske’s long-standing mental health issues, including past thoughts of violence toward his sister. While Roske has received some treatment, specific details were not disclosed. Prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the crime, writing: “While the defendant has mental health issues, those issues do not detract from the gravity of the defendant’s crime: the defendant researched and targeted multiple members of the judiciary, and intended to alter the composition of the Supreme Court for ideological reasons.”
The revelation about Roske’s name and pronoun change comes amid broader discussions within the Department of Justice about firearm access for transgender individuals. Separately, a recent high-profile case involving conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson—who was reportedly in a relationship with a transgender person—has also drawn national attention. Authorities have said Robinson believed Kirk was spreading hate, which may have motivated the attack. That investigation remains ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons declined to confirm whether Roske has received any gender-related treatments, citing privacy and security policies. “For privacy, safety, and security reasons, the Bureau of Prisons does not comment on the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual, including health information status or treatments,” the spokesperson said.