George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley expressed shock Monday at the prison sentence given to the would-be assassin of Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
United States District Judge Deborah Boardman of the District of Maryland, a Biden appointee, sentenced Nicholas Roske to just over eight years in prison on Friday, citing the fact that Roske identified as a transgender woman named Sophie as one reason for her ruling. Turley said it was the “first time” he’d become aware of such a ruling.
“Well, it was quite a difference,” Turley told “America Reports” co-hosts Sandra Smith and John Roberts. “You know, the federal sentencing laws after a case called Booker are no longer binding on federal judges, but judges try to stay roughly in the same continent. This sentence seemed to come from a different planet.”
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“I mean, the minimum sentence recommended by the guidelines was 30 years. She was off by about 22 years, and the rationale that she used raised more concerns,” Turley continued. “Like, one could understand that this person did call the police, ultimately. Obviously, he has some mental issues. But this person also researched how killing a justice could change the outcome of cases and said that he was going to shoot for three, but how killing one might flip the balance of the Supreme Court.”
Roske, who was armed with a pistol and a knife, was arrested in June 2022 near Kavanaugh’s home after telling police officers he intended to kill the Supreme Court justice to give his life “purpose,” according to an affidavit.
“This was a very premeditated act, so this is a very light sentence, and then her rationale that he might need treatment for his gender transformation or procedures is really quite unique,” Turley said. “And many of us were really scratching our heads. She was using that almost like it was a sentencing departure, and that’s the first time I have ever seen that.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department would appeal the sentencing in a Friday post on X.
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