Prosecutors: Minnesota Man Printed “Kill a Judge” Manifesto

Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Minnesota man is accused of threatening to murder a federal judge.

According to the Office of the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, 72-year-old Robert Philip Ivers was previously convicted in federal court for threatening to kill a federal judge. The new federal complaint against Ivers says he attracted the attention of law enforcement on September 3 when officers were called to a library in Wayzata on a report that a man was printing copies of a manifesto entitled “How to Kill a Federal Judge.”

Library Staff Reported Alarming Manifesto

Court documents say library staff reported that Ivers showed the manifesto to them, and it included a page that talked about killing children and featured a picture of a gun. Federal prosecutors say he also gave staff a three-page flyer advertising his manifesto that stated it “is designed to teach extremists how to plan, train, hunt, stalk, and kill anyone, including judges, their family members, politicians, and more.”

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A news release concerning the federal case says investigators later learned that a few days earlier, Ivers had been reported for “concerning behavior” at a school in Minnetonka. It states that church staff contacted law enforcement after conducting an online search that uncovered past threats of violence, his felony conviction, and racist commentary.

Past Threats and Criminal Record Raise Concerns

According to federal prosecutors, Ivers’ manifesto focuses on perceived wrongs done to him by the judicial system and his anticipated revenge. It also contains “handwritten threats to kill, including threats to kill judges, as well as their children and pets.” A news release announcing his arrest and charges says the publication suggests Ivers is fixated on the same federal judge he was previously convicted of threatening to kill.

“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. of FBI Minneapolis. “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.”

The federal case against Ivers is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Wayzata Police Department.

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