Man charged with attempted murder of Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh

June 8 (UPI) -- Authorities say they arrested an armed man from California early on Wednesday near the Maryland home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and charged him with attempted murder.

Police said they arrested Nicholas John Roske, 26, just before 2 a.m. and that he was armed with a gun and a knife. They noted that the man said that he'd wanted to kill Kavanaugh, who became a high court justice in 2018.

He faces one count of attempt to kidnap or murder, or threaten to assault, kidnap or murder a U.S. judge. If convicted of the charge, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

A criminal complaint said Roske called 911 on himself. During the call, police said the man told them he'd had homicidal thoughts and traveled from California to attack Kavanaugh. Roske also said he carried the gun inside a briefcase, and that it was not loaded. He was also found carrying burglary tools.

The Supreme Court said the man was eventually taken to the Second District Police Station in Bethesda, Md.

Abortion-rights activists gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on May 3 to express concern about a leaked opinion that indicated the court is prepared to overturn the landmark abortion ruling in Roe vs. Wade. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

The man's arrest comes at a time of heightened concern and security for justices of the Supreme Court -- due mainly to recent protests over a leaked opinion about a month ago that indicated the conservative-majority court is preparing to overturn the landmark abortion ruling in Roe vs. Wade.

As more protesters gathered at the court in Washington, D.C. -- some to express concern and others support -- officials erected taller security fencing around the court building. Some of the protests moved close to some of the conservative justices' homes, which prompted even more new security.

Kavanaugh, 57, has been a controversial justice since he was nominated by former President Donald Trump in 2018, and later faced accusations of sexual misconduct at his Senate confirmation hearings. He narrowly won confirmation by a vote of 50-48.

The court's expected decision on abortion, which is linked to a Mississippi case that was argued in December, will be delivered sometime before the Supreme Court's term ends later this month. At the end of the term, Associate Justice Stephen Breyer will retire and will be succeeded by Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden's first high-court appointee.