Defendant Indicted for Threatening to Murder a Federal Judge, a Supreme Court Justice, and a Defense Attorney

MINNEAPOLIS - Robert Phillip Ivers, age 72, was indicted yesterday in a three-count indictment with threatening to assault and murder a federal judge and a Supreme Court Justice, as well as interstate transmission of threats to injure others, including a defense attorney, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. Ivers was previously convicted federally of threatening to kill a federal judge. Ivers was charged by complaint earlier this week and was ordered detained pending further proceedings.

"Threats to murder a federal judge, a Supreme Court Justice, and a defense attorney are not just words on a page. They are direct attacks on the rule of law," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. "We will not allow violent rhetoric to become routine. When someone threatens our judges, we will answer with swift federal prosecution."

According to the complaint, on September 3, 2025, law enforcement responded to the Wayzata Library in Wayzata, Minnesota, based on a report of a man printing off copies of a manifesto entitled, "How to Kill a Federal Judge." This man was Robert Ivers. Law enforcement learned that Ivers showed the manifesto to library staff including a page of the manifesto that talked about killing children and had a picture of a gun on it. Ivers also gave library staff a three-page "flyer" advertising his manifesto before he left the library. The flyer stated that the manifesto "is designed to teach extremists on how to plan, train, hunt, stalk and kill anyone including judges, their family members, politicians and more!" It also advertised that the "harsh reality is that judges are going to die."

In investigating the case, law enforcement learned that, on August 28, 2025, Ivers had been reported for concerning behavior at an Episcopal church in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Ivers attended multiple services and told church members that he planned to attend upcoming church events on September 7 (a family picnic and potluck), September 11 (a blessing of children going back to school, with state legislators in attendance), and September 14 (an annual baptism service). Church staff searched Ivers online and discovered his history included past threats of violence, a felony conviction, and racist commentary. Church staff then contacted law enforcement.

On the evening of September 3, 2025, the Wayzata Police Department located Ivers and arrested him. During his transport, Ivers claimed that he was having a heart attack. Law enforcement transferred Ivers to the hospital from the jail. Ivers was subsequently released from the hospital later that night.

Law enforcement searched Ivers's vehicle and found, among other things: (1) a photo of the former Pope with crosshairs centered on his head; (2) twenty copies of a spiral bound printed book titled, "How to Kill a Federal Judge" by Robert Ivers; (3) multiple copies of flyers advertising the contents of the book; (4) lists of federal judges; (5) a copy of the Anarchist Cookbook; (6) a white foam box containing a toy replica firearm, a box of Co2 cartridges, and a container of pellets; and (7) a box of fireworks.

On September 5, 2025, Wayzata Police Department re-arrested Ivers. Following his arrest, Ivers was interviewed. Ivers admitted to showing a copy of his manifesto to library staff. Law enforcement asked Ivers if he thought his book would have scared anybody. In response, Ivers shouted: "It was supposed to!"

Ivers's manifesto is 236 pages long. The cover page is entitled, "How to Kill a Federal Judge" and features a photo of a man holding a rifle. In his manifesto, Ivers focused on the perceived wrongs done to him by the judicial system. He discussed these wrongs-and his anticipated revenge-at length. The manifesto contains various types of writings and many disturbing sketches, apparently drawn by Ivers. The manifesto also contains handwritten threats to kill, including threats to kill judges, as well as their children and pets. Ivers made clear his purpose was to instill fear. He wrote, "If this book doesn't instill fear in you then your already dead."

Many names appear in the manifesto, including the names of federal judges. Ivers fixated on Federal Judge A, who presided over his federal trial, and Federal Judge B, who Ivers was previously convicted of threatening to kill. In the manifesto, Ivers threatens to kill Federal Judge A. Ivers has a long history of threatening judges and others. In 2019, Ivers was convicted at trial of threatening to kill Federal Judge B, a federal judge in Minnesota, in United States v. Robert Ivers, 18 CR 90.

Ivers made his initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday afternoon. He is held in custody pending a detention hearing, which will likely occur next week.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Wayzata Police Department, and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota thanks both the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota and the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for their assistance and important partnership in this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda A. Williams is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.