Man threatened to kill judge in rambling manifesto that also targeted children, federal charges say

Federal prosecutors have charged a man with threatening to murder a United States judge after authorities were flagged to his 236-page manifesto that they allege is filled with violent ramblings, photos of guns and messages about killing children.

Court documents also say that he was scouting upcoming events at a Minnetonka church.

Robert Ivers, 72, is in federal custody and scheduled to make a court appearance in U.S. District Court in St. Paul on a single count of threatening to assault and murder a federal judge. Ivers was convicted federally of the same charge in 2018 and for making the threat across state lines from North Dakota, where he resided at the time. He was sentenced to 1½ years in prison and three years on supervised release.

No attorney has been listed for Ivers in the current case.

According to a complaint, the investigation into the latest alleged threats unfolded Sept. 3 at the Wayzata Library when staffers reported Ivers printing off copies of a manifesto titled “How to Kill a Federal Judge” the day before. A librarian recalled that Ivers showed them a page from the manuscript that discussed killing children and contained a picture of a gun.

The librarians told law enforcement they were concerned Ivers “might do something if they called 911” after noticing he was listening to their conversations, according to the court filing. Before he left the library, Ivers gave a copy of a three-page document to library staff, they told police.

In the complaint, law enforcement agents said the document was an apparent advertisement for his manifesto, which is described as a guide “designed to teach extremists on how to plan, train, hunt, stalk and kill anyone including judges, their family members, politicians and more!”

The manifesto also focused on an unnamed defense attorney who testified against Ivers in the same trial, the complaint said. The attorney told law enforcement that Ivers had threatened her in February 2025 and she received his manifesto in the mail, which she reported to law enforcement.

The complaint includes several sketches allegedly drawn by Ivers with notes in the margins discussing killing and dying. The manuscript appears to have been written between 2019 and 2024, the court filing said.

As police investigated, officers learned an Episcopal church in Minnetonka had reported Ivers on Aug. 28 for “abnormal behavior” toward church members. The church became concerned after discovering his prior conviction, the complaint said. Staff told police Ivers planned to attend upcoming church events, including a family picnic, a blessing of children going back to school and an annual baptism.

Wayzata police arrested Ivers on Sept. 3 and seized his car. As he was being transported, police said, Ivers said he was having a heart attack. He was transferred to the hospital and later released.

A search of Ivers’ vehicle during the Sept. 3 arrest turned up a photo of the former pope with crosshairs on his head, 20 copies of Ivers’ manifesto, a toy replica firearm, a box of CO2 cartridges, a copy of “The Anarchist Cookbook” and fireworks.

The complaint said Ivers confirmed to authorities during an interview that he showed his manuscript to library staff. Before he was booked, Ivers told law enforcement that they were doing him a favor because, come Monday morning, it would be “party time.”

“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 Joe Thompson. “Ivers’ 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.”

Court records detail Ivers’ extensive history of harassing threats toward the Minnesota judiciary.

In 2014, he’s reported to have sent letters to two Hennepin County judges, calling them “pig” and “garbage.”