A Justice Department sentencing memo lays out the chilling plan by Nicholas “Sophie” Roske to kill not just Justice Brett Kavanaugh but up to three Supreme Court justices, describing a months-long operation that prosecutors say amounted to terrorism against the judiciary. The government is asking for at least 30 years in prison following Roske’s guilty plea for attempting to assassinate a justice.

Filed Friday in federal court in Maryland, the memorandum details extensive online research, weapons purchases, and reconnaissance leading up to Roske’s arrival outside Kavanaugh’s Maryland home in the early hours of June 8, 2022. According to prosecutors, Roske’s own digital trail shows he wanted to alter the Court’s direction through murder. In Discord messages quoted by the filing, Roske wrote that he was “shooting for 3” and observed that “people have killed judges before.” The memo says a saved Google map pinned what Roske believed were the home addresses of four justices.

Authorities say Roske flew from California to Dulles with a Glock 17, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, a pry bar, tactical gloves, and other gear, then took a taxi to Kavanaugh’s street. Upon spotting deputy U.S. marshals outside the residence, he walked away, spoke with his sister, and dialed 911, later surrendering to police. Prosecutors argue the change of heart came only after he saw the security presence.

The government’s filing describes methodical preparation that began months earlier. Investigators cite searches such as “most effective way to silently kill someone,” “how to break glass quietly,” and “countries least likely to extradite to the US.” They say Roske purchased the handgun and accessories in late May 2022, practiced at a range, researched target addresses, and attempted to wipe devices and delete accounts before traveling. The memo frames the plan as an effort to “single-handedly alter the Constitutional order for ideological ends.”

Federal prosecutors characterize the crime as a “federal crime of terrorism” under the sentencing guidelines and invoke a terrorism enhancement that places the recommended range at 30 years to life. They argue a severe sentence is necessary to deter political violence against judges and to protect the public. The Justice Department says threats and menacing communications against the judiciary have surged in recent years and that Roske’s actions “strike at the core” of judicial independence.

Defense attorneys are urging leniency, asking for about eight years and pointing to mental health struggles, the lack of a criminal record, and Roske’s decision to surrender. Court filings and coverage note Roske now identifies as a woman and uses the name Sophie, a point the defense says is part of the personal turmoil surrounding the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for October 3 before Judge Deborah Boardman.

The attempt occurred amid national uproar over the leak of a draft opinion in Dobbs, which ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade weeks later. The memo recounts Roske’s fury over abortion and gun cases as motives and quotes messages asking what would happen if a conservative justice died. Nearly three years later, critics note there has been no public accountability for the leaker who ignited the firestorm and placed justices and their families in danger.

What makes Friday’s filing explosive is not simply the foiled attempt on Kavanaugh’s life. It is the depiction of a broader, ideologically motivated plot against multiple justices, backed by reconnaissance, procurement of weapons, and tactical planning that prosecutors say continued right up to Roske’s arrival at Kavanaugh’s doorstep. The government says only the visible presence of marshals and a timely call from Roske’s sister prevented a tragedy.

The memo closes by asking the court to send a “clear and strong message” that political violence aimed at coercing judicial outcomes will be met with the heaviest consequences.

The government is seeking at least three decades behind bars, while the defense seeks a single-digit term. The judge will have the final word next month.