On January 8, 2011, Chief Judge John M. Roll of the US District Court for the District of Arizona was shot and killed when a gunman opened fire at a public constituent event in Tucson, Arizona. The gunman, Jared Loughner, killed additional five people and wounded 20 others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who sustained a severe head injury. In a rare public statement, Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. praised Roll's dedication to public service and jurisprudence on the same day. Although Loughner was indicted on charges of attempted murder and attempted assassination, he was ultimately ruled not competent to stand trial in May 2011.

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