72-Year-Old Indicted for Threatening Judges, Justice

MINNEAPOLIS – Robert Phillip Ivers, a 72-year-old man from Minnesota, was indicted yesterday on three counts, including threatening to assault and murder a federal judge and a Supreme Court Justice, as well as interstate transmission of threats to injure others. Ivers’ previous conviction for threatening to kill a federal judge has now led to these fresh charges.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson emphasized the severity of the charges, stating, “Threats to murder a federal judge, a Supreme Court Justice, and a defense attorney are direct attacks on the rule of law. We will not allow violent rhetoric to become routine.”

The indictment stems from events on September 3, 2025, when Ivers was found at the Wayzata Library in Minnesota with copies of a disturbing manifesto titled “How to Kill a Federal Judge.” The document contained explicit threats against judges and their families. Ivers also distributed flyers advertising his book, which he claimed was designed to teach others how to kill judges.

Investigations revealed that Ivers had previously reported concerning behavior at an Episcopal church in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Church staff discovered Ivers’ online presence included past threats of violence and a felony conviction for threatening a federal judge.

On September 3, Ivers was arrested after attempting to leave the library with the manifesto. He claimed to be having a heart attack during his transport, but he was released from the hospital that night. Search of his vehicle revealed further incriminating evidence, including photographs with crosshairs aimed at public figures and various weapons-related materials.

In an interview after his second arrest on September 5, Ivers admitted to showing the manifesto to library staff. His response to whether he thought his book would scare anyone was, “It was supposed to!”