Early Life and Education of Brett Kavanaugh: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Brett Kavanaugh. From birth to education, explore key events.

Brett Kavanaugh is an American lawyer and jurist, currently serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nominated by President Donald Trump, he assumed the role on October 6, 2018. Prior to his Supreme Court appointment, Kavanaugh served as a U.S. circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a position he held from 2006 to 2018.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

February 12, 1965: Brett Kavanaugh's Birth

On February 12, 1965, Brett Michael Kavanaugh was born. He is an American lawyer and jurist who currently serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Others born on this day/year

1978: Mother Earns Juris Doctor Degree

In 1978, Brett Kavanaugh's mother earned a Juris Doctor degree from American University.

1983: Graduation from Georgetown Prep

In 1983, Brett Kavanaugh graduated from Georgetown Prep and subsequently attended Yale University.

1987: Graduation from Yale University

In 1987, Brett Kavanaugh graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in history.

1988: Member of the Federalist Society

Since 1988, Brett Kavanaugh has been a member of the Federalist Society.

1990: Graduation from Yale Law School

In 1990, Brett Kavanaugh graduated from Yale Law School with a Juris Doctor degree. During his time there, he was a member of the Yale Law Journal and served as a notes editor during his third year.

1995: Mother becomes Maryland Circuit Court Judge

In 1995, Brett Kavanaugh's mother began serving as a Maryland Circuit Court judge in Montgomery County, Maryland.

December 2000: Joins Bush Legal Team

In December 2000, Kavanaugh joined the legal team of George W. Bush, which was trying to stop the ballot recount in Florida.

2000: Pro Bono Counsel for Elián González Relatives

While at Kirkland & Ellis in 2000, Kavanaugh was pro bono counsel of record for relatives of Elián González, a six-year-old rescued Cuban boy, unsuccessfully seeking to stop efforts to repatriate González to Cuba.

January 2001: Associate White House Counsel

In January 2001, after Bush became president, Kavanaugh was hired as an associate White House counsel.

2001: Mother ends term as Maryland Circuit Court Judge

In 2001, Brett Kavanaugh's mother ended her term as a Maryland Circuit Court judge in Montgomery County, Maryland, a position she had held since 1995.

2002: Thoughts on Anthony Kennedy

In 2002, Kavanaugh told other White House lawyers that he believed Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy would not approve of denying legal counsel to prisoners detained as enemy combatants.

July 2003: Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary

Starting in July 2003, Brett Kavanaugh served as Assistant to the President and White House staff secretary, succeeding Harriet Miers.

2004: Marriage to Ashley Estes

In 2004, Kavanaugh married Ashley Estes, the personal secretary to former president George W. Bush.

May 11, 2006: Judiciary Committee Recommended Confirmation

On May 11, 2006, the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended Brett Kavanaugh be confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on a 10–8 party-line vote.

May 2006: Confirmation to D.C. Circuit

In May 2006, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

May 2006: Confirmation hearing

In May 2006, at his confirmation hearing to the District of Columbia Circuit, Kavanaugh stated that he was a registered Republican.

2007: Teaching at Georgetown University Law Center

In 2007, Kavanaugh taught Constitutional Interpretation at Georgetown University Law Center.

2008: Teaching at Harvard Law School

In 2008, Kavanaugh began teaching full-term courses on separation of powers at Harvard Law School. He was also hired as a visiting professor by Elena Kagan, then the dean of Harvard Law School.

2009: Named Samuel Williston Lecturer on Law

In 2009, Kavanaugh was named the Samuel Williston Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School.

2010: Ran Boston Marathon

In 2010, Kavanaugh ran the Boston Marathon. His bib bore a non-qualifying number.

2011: Teaching at Yale Law School

In 2011, Kavanaugh taught National Security and Foreign Relations Law at Yale Law School.

2014: Teaching at Harvard Law School

From 2014 Kavanaugh taught courses on the Supreme Court at Harvard Law School.

2015: Ran Boston Marathon

In 2015, Kavanaugh ran the Boston Marathon. His bib bore a non-qualifying number.

2015: Teaching at Harvard Law School

Kavanaugh taught courses on separation of powers at Harvard Law School until 2015.

July 9, 2018: Nomination to the Supreme Court

On July 9, 2018, Brett Kavanaugh was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

October 6, 2018: Service on Supreme Court Begins

Brett Kavanaugh began serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States on October 6, 2018.

2018: Teaching at Harvard Law School

From 2014 until 2018, Kavanaugh taught courses on the Supreme Court at Harvard Law School.

2018: Reported Salary

In 2018, Kavanaugh's reported salary was $220,600 as a federal judge and $27,000 as a lecturer at Harvard Law School.

2020: Regarded as a Swing Vote

Since the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020, Brett Kavanaugh has come to be regarded as a swing vote on the Supreme Court.

June 8, 2022: Sophie Roske traveled to Kavanaugh's home with plans to murder him.

On June 8, 2022, Sophie Roske traveled from California to Kavanaugh's home in Maryland with plans to break into his home, murder Kavanaugh, and die by suicide. Roske called the police on herself and was arrested.

June 2022: Assassination Plot

In June 2022, Brett Kavanaugh was the target of an assassination plot by a suspect hoping to disrupt rulings in Dobbs and Bruen.

April 8, 2025: Sophie Roske pleaded guilty to attempted murder

On April 8, 2025, Sophie Roske pleaded guilty to attempted murder of a U.S. Supreme Court justice.

October 3, 2025: Sophie Roske sentenced to 97 months in prison

On October 3, 2025, U.S. district judge Deborah Boardman sentenced Sophie Roske to 97 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for attempted murder of a U.S. Supreme Court justice.