Robert Phillip Ivers, 72, has been charged with threatening to assault and murder a federal judge, according to an announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. Ivers has a prior federal conviction for threatening to kill a federal judge.
“At a time when Minnesota is reeling from acts of violence, the last thing we need is someone spreading fear into our churches, libraries, and courts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Ivers’s threats are bone chilling. After the past few months, we are not taking chances. When someone threatens our community, we believe them, and we will act swiftly to protect Minnesotans.”
According to the criminal complaint, on September 3, 2025, law enforcement responded to the Wayzata Library after reports that a man was printing copies of a manifesto titled “How to Kill a Federal Judge.” The man was identified as Robert Ivers. Authorities learned that Ivers showed this manifesto to library staff; one page included references to killing children and displayed an image of a gun. Before leaving the library, he handed out flyers advertising his manifesto. The flyer claimed it would teach extremists how “to plan, train, hunt, stalk and kill anyone including judges, their family members, politicians and more!” It also stated that “the harsh reality is that judges are going to die.”
Further investigation revealed that on August 28, 2025, Ivers had exhibited concerning behavior at an Episcopal church in Minnetonka by attending multiple services and telling members about his plans to attend upcoming church events in September. Church staff looked up Ivers online and found information about his previous threats of violence and felony conviction before contacting law enforcement.
Wayzata Police arrested Ivers on the evening of September 3 after locating him in response to these incidents. During transport he reported feeling unwell and was taken from jail to the hospital but released later that night.
A search of Ivers’s vehicle led police to find several items: photographs—including one of the former Pope with crosshairs over his head—twenty printed copies of his book “How to Kill a Federal Judge,” flyers advertising its content, lists naming federal judges, a copy of the Anarchist Cookbook, toy replica firearm equipment with CO2 cartridges and pellets inside a foam box, as well as fireworks.
On September 5 police re-arrested Ivers who admitted during questioning that he had shown his manifesto at the library; when asked if he thought it would scare people he responded: “It was supposed to!”
The manifesto itself spans 236 pages under the same title advertised at the library and features imagery such as a person holding a rifle on its cover page. Within its contents are writings focused on grievances against the judicial system as well as revenge fantasies involving federal judges—including handwritten threats directed toward judges’ families—and sketches drawn by Ivers himself. One passage reads: “If this book doesn’t instill fear in you then your already dead.”
The document reportedly includes names of various individuals including those presiding over previous cases involving Ivers; notably Federal Judge A (who oversaw his trial) and Federal Judge B (whom he was previously convicted for threatening). In United States v. Robert Ivers (18 CR 90), he was convicted in 2019 for making such threats against Federal Judge B.
“Threats of violence directed at federal judges not only undermine the integrity of our legal system but also pose a grave risk to the principles of justice and democracy,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr., FBI Minneapolis Division. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners consider all threats of violence against judges or any public servants with grave seriousness. These actions will not be tolerated. As this chilling case confirms, we are fully committed to protecting judges who devote themselves to our communities and legal system.”
Ivers is scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court where prosecutors will seek pretrial detention.
This investigation involved cooperation among several agencies including the FBI’s Minneapolis Division (https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/minneapolis), Wayzata Police Department (https://www.wayzatapd.org/), Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/), United States Marshals Service (https://www.usmarshals.gov/), and support from Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (https://www.hennepinattorney.org/). Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda A. Williams is prosecuting.
A complaint represents only allegations; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
