FEDS: Minnesota Man Distributed ‘How to Kill a Judge’ Manifesto

Sep 9

A 72-year-old Minnesota man with a history of accosting judicial workers has been charged with threatening to murder a federal judge, allegedly writing and distributing a 236-page manifesto.

According to a federal complaint, Robert Phillip Ivers was arrested Sept. 3 after staff at the Wayzata Library reported that he was printing copies of the manifesto and showing it to employees.

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Ivers handed them a flyer advertising the book, which read that it was designed to “teach extremists on how to plan, train, hunt, stalk and kill anyone including judges, their family members, politicians and more!” The flyer further warned, “The harsh reality is that judges are going to die.”

Wayzata police located Ivers later that evening and took him into custody. During transport he claimed to be having a heart attack, prompting a transfer to a hospital. He was released later that night. A search of his vehicle uncovered 20 printed copies of the manifesto, multiple flyers, lists of federal judges, a photo of the former Pope with crosshairs drawn over his head, a copy of the Anarchist Cookbook, a toy replica gun with pellets and CO2 cartridges and a box of fireworks.

The complaint says Ivers had drawn concern days earlier at an Episcopal church in Minnetonka. On Aug. 28, he told church members he planned to attend upcoming events including a Sept. 11 service featuring state legislators. Staff looked him up online, learned of his felony conviction and prior threats of violence and contacted law enforcement.

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Police re-arrested Ivers on Sept. 5. During an interview he admitted showing the manifesto to library staff. When asked if he thought the book would scare people, he shouted, “It was supposed to!”

Investigators say the manifesto contained disturbing sketches, handwritten threats and repeated passages describing revenge against the judicial system. He specifically threatened to kill the judge who presided over his federal trial, referred to as Federal Judge A in the complaint, and had previously been convicted of threatening to kill another Minnesota judge, identified as Federal Judge B.

“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. Ivers’s threats are bone chilling,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said in a written statement. “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.”

Ivers has a lengthy record of threatening behavior. In 2019, he was convicted of threatening to kill a federal judge. In 2022, prosecutors filed another charge after he became enraged during a revocation hearing, pounded a table, broke a chair leg, screamed the word “hate” repeatedly and then threatened to kill his probation officer. He previously served prison time and probation for threatening U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina Wright after she ruled against him in a lawsuit.

“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,” FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. said. “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 was set to make his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors are seeking to have him detained as the case moves forward. The investigation has involved the FBI, Wayzata police, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the U.S. Marshals Service, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

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