Brett Kavanaugh

Brett Kavanaugh
Photographer, Fred Schilling Taken for Supreme Court · Public domain · source
Name	Brett Kavanaugh
Office	Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Appointedby	Donald Trump
Termstart	October 6, 2018
Predecessor	Anthony Kennedy
Birth date	12 February 1965
Birth place	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Spouse	Ashley Estes, 2004
Education	Yale University (BA), Yale Law School (JD)

Brett Kavanaugh is an American jurist serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was nominated by President Donald Trump in July 2018 to succeed retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy and was confirmed by the United States Senate following a highly contentious process. His tenure on the Court has solidified its conservative majority, with his jurisprudence often aligning with originalist and textualist interpretations championed by colleagues like Clarence Thomas and the late Antonin Scalia.

Early life and education

Brett Michael Kavanaugh was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, attending Georgetown Preparatory School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Yale University in 1987, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He then attended Yale Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1990. During his time at Yale Law School, he served as a notes editor for the Yale Law Journal and clerked for Judge Walter King Stapleton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Legal career

Following his judicial clerkship, Kavanaugh clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy during the October 1993 term of the Supreme Court of the United States. He then worked as an attorney in the Office of the Solicitor General under Kenneth Starr during the George H. W. Bush administration. Kavanaugh joined the staff of independent counsel Kenneth Starr, contributing to the investigation of President Bill Clinton that led to the Starr Report. He later served as a partner at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis before assuming roles in the George W. Bush administration, first as an associate counsel and then as a staff secretary in the White House.

Judicial career

In 2003, President George W. Bush nominated Kavanaugh to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often considered the nation's second-most influential court. His confirmation was delayed for three years due to partisan opposition, but he was ultimately confirmed by the United States Senate in 2006. During his twelve-year tenure on the D.C. Circuit, he authored nearly 300 opinions, establishing a reputation as a prolific and conservative judge. His rulings often addressed significant administrative law questions involving agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Communications Commission.

Supreme Court nomination and confirmation

On July 9, 2018, President Donald Trump announced Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States. His confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee were dominated by allegations of sexual misconduct from his high school and college years, most notably from professor Christine Blasey Ford. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a supplemental background investigation at the request of the United States Senate. After a narrow vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee and a final cloture vote, he was confirmed by the full United States Senate in a 50–48 vote on October 6, 2018, and was ceremonially sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts.

Tenure on the Supreme Court

Since joining the Supreme Court of the United States, Kavanaugh has consistently voted with the conservative bloc. He has authored significant opinions in cases involving religious liberty, such as *Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue*, and administrative law, often favoring constraints on the regulatory power of agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He joined the majority in pivotal decisions including *Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization*, which overturned *Roe v. Wade*, and *New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen*, which expanded Second Amendment rights. His judicial philosophy emphasizes textualism and a robust conception of executive authority.

Personal life

Kavanaugh married Ashley Estes Kavanaugh in 2004, who previously served as a personal secretary to President George W. Bush. The couple has two daughters and are parishioners at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C.. An avid sports fan, he has coached his daughters' basketball teams and is a well-known supporter of the Washington Commanders football team and the Yale Bulldogs athletic programs. He maintains active membership in the Federalist Society and has taught courses at Harvard Law School, the Georgetown University Law Center, and the Yale Law School.

Category:Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States Category:Yale University alumni Category:American legal scholars