A Maryland judge sentenced Nicholas Roske, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, to only eight years in prison on Friday.
The decision has sparked outrage after Judge Deborah Boardman cited Roske’s “transgender identity” in her ruling.
Prosecutors had asked for at least 30 years.
Roske, who now goes by Sophie after declaring himself “transgender” in prison, received less than a decade behind bars despite flying from California to Maryland in 2022 with a Glock pistol, ammunition, zip ties, pepper spray, a crowbar, and tactical gear.
Roske was arrested outside Kavanaugh’s home during the heat of the Court’s consideration of overturning Roe v. Wade. He admitted that he intended to kill Kavanaugh but called his sister when he saw police near the residence.
Judge Boardman, a Biden appointee, referred to Roske with female pronouns in court. She repeatedly raised questions about whether he would be housed in a women’s prison and whether hormone therapy would be provided.
Daily Wire reporter Luke Rosiak, who was in the courtroom, said, “Judge Boardman, a Biden appointee, is referring to the defendant as Ms. Roske and asking whether ‘she’ will be placed in a women’s prison and given hormone replacement. The implication is that if not, she will be given a shorter sentence.”
Rosiak added, “Judge Boardman is asking how Roske’s transgender status should impact her sentence, and demanding evidence that longer sentences provide more deterrence. Asking why, 3 years later, ‘Ms. Roske’ is a risk to the public.”
Roske’s mother testified at the hearing, saying she has “attended PFLAG meetings and learned about the LGBTQ+ community.”
She added, “I am committed to going on this journey with Sophie.”
In court, Roske told the judge, in what reporters described as a “deep baritone,” that he had been “portrayed as a monster.”
He said, “This tragic mistake I made will follow me for the rest of my life.”
Judge Boardman justified the light sentence by crediting Roske for abandoning the plot at the last minute, his lack of criminal history, and expressions of remorse.
She also cited President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring male criminals to be housed in male prisons, saying it influenced her decision, per The Post Millennial.
The Hill reported that Boardman “credited Roske’s decision to abandon the plot, her lack of criminal history and remorse. The judge also said she had taken into account that President Trump’s executive order will place Roske, a transgender woman, in a male facility.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Coreen Mao strongly disagreed. Mao told the court that Roske posed “a very real threat to our system of government.”
Mao added, “No judge or public official should have to live under the fear thinking that any moment at any given day at any given time they could be killed in cold blood simply for doing their job.”
Court documents show Roske had also threatened other Supreme Court Justices.
He had researched assassination methods and bought weapons in preparation for the attack.
Roske told the court that he had been under “the delusion that I could make the world a better place by killing Kavanaugh.”
Despite this, Judge Boardman concluded that eight years in prison, followed by supervised release for life, was an appropriate punishment.
