Brett Kavanaugh

Brett Kavanaugh
Photographer, Fred Schilling Taken for Supreme Court · Public domain · source
Name	Brett Kavanaugh
Birth date	February 12, 1965
Birth place	Washington, D.C.
Alma mater	Yale University, Yale Law School

Brett Kavanaugh is a United States Supreme Court justice, appointed by Donald Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate in 2018. He was previously a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where he served alongside Merrick Garland and Douglas Ginsburg. Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court was supported by the Federalist Society and the National Rifle Association, while opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood. His confirmation process was marked by controversy, including allegations of misconduct by Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez, which were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

● Early Life and Education

Brett Kavanaugh was born in Washington, D.C. to Martha Kavanaugh and Edward Kavanaugh, a lawyer who worked for the Kennedy family. He grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, and attended Georgetown Preparatory School, where he was a classmate of Mark Judge. Kavanaugh then enrolled at Yale University, where he studied History and was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, alongside George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. After graduating from Yale, Kavanaugh attended Yale Law School, where he was a notes editor for the Yale Law Journal and studied under Guido Calabresi and Alex Kozinski.

● Career

After law school, Kavanaugh clerked for Walter Stapleton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Anthony Kennedy of the United States Supreme Court. He then worked as a lawyer in the Office of Independent Counsel under Ken Starr, investigating the Whitewater controversy and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Kavanaugh also worked as a partner at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, where he represented clients such as Eli Lilly and Company and the National Football League. In 2001, he joined the staff of the White House under George W. Bush, working as a lawyer and later as Staff Secretary.

● Judicial Career

In 2006, Kavanaugh was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by George W. Bush, after being nominated in 2003. He was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 57-36 vote, with the support of Orrin Hatch and Arlen Specter. As a judge, Kavanaugh heard cases involving Guantánamo Bay detainees, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Labor Relations Board. He also wrote opinions on issues such as gun control and abortion rights, citing precedents such as Roe v. Wade and District of Columbia v. Heller. Kavanaugh's judicial philosophy was influenced by Antonin Scalia and Robert Bork, and he was a frequent speaker at the Federalist Society.

● Supreme Court Nomination

In 2018, Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court to replace Anthony Kennedy, who had announced his retirement. The nomination was supported by the Republican National Committee and the National Rifle Association, while opposed by the Democratic National Committee and Planned Parenthood. During his confirmation hearings, Kavanaugh testified before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, answering questions from Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein. He also faced allegations of misconduct from Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez, which were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

● Personal Life

Kavanaugh is married to Ashley Estes Kavanaugh, a former aide to George W. Bush, and they have two daughters, Liza Kavanaugh and Margaret Kavanaugh. He is a Catholic and has served as a lector at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.. Kavanaugh is also a coach for his daughters' basketball teams and has been involved in various charity work, including the Washington Jesuit Academy and the Archdiocese of Washington. He has received awards from the Catholic University of America and the National Catholic Education Association, and has been recognized for his pro bono work by the District of Columbia Bar.