Brett Michael Kavanaugh is an American lawyer and judge who currently serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nominated by President Donald Trump in 2018, Kavanaugh previously served as a U.S. Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. His tenure in this role lasted from 2006 to 2018.
February 12, 1965: Brett Kavanaugh is born
Brett Michael Kavanaugh was born on February 12, 1965, in Washington, D.C.
1978: Kavanaugh's Mother Earns Law Degree
Martha Kavanaugh, Brett Kavanaugh's mother, earned a law degree from American University in 1978.
1981: Beginning of Alleged Parties involving Kavanaugh and Judge
From 1981 to 1983, parties allegedly took place in the Washington, D.C. area where Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge were present, according to allegations made by Julie Swetnick in 2018.
1983: End of Alleged Parties involving Kavanaugh and Judge
1983 marked the end of a period, from 1981 to 1983, during which parties allegedly took place in the Washington, D.C. area where Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge were present, according to allegations made by Julie Swetnick in 2018.
1983: Graduates from Georgetown Prep
Brett Kavanaugh graduated from Georgetown Prep in 1983.
1983: Ramirez Alleges Incident at Yale Party
In 1983, according to Deborah Ramirez's allegations, Brett Kavanaugh exposed himself to her during a party while they were both students at Yale University. This alleged incident became public in 2018 during Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, leading to further scrutiny of his past behavior.
1987: Graduates from Yale University
Brett Kavanaugh graduated from Yale University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in history.
1988: Joined the Federalist Society
Brett Kavanaugh became a member of the Federalist Society in 1988.
1990: Graduates from Yale Law School
Brett Kavanaugh graduated from Yale Law School with a Juris Doctor degree in 1990.
1990: Law Clerk for Judge Walter King Stapleton
Brett Kavanaugh served as a law clerk for Judge Walter King Stapleton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 1990 to 1991.
1991: Law Clerk for Judge Alex Kozinski
From 1991 to 1992, Kavanaugh clerked for Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
1992: Fellowship with Ken Starr
From 1992 to 1993, Kavanaugh held a one-year fellowship with Ken Starr, the Solicitor General of the United States.
1992: Planned Parenthood v. Casey Reaffirms Roe v. Wade
In 1992, the Supreme Court case Planned Parenthood v. Casey reaffirmed the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. This case, which upheld the constitutional right to abortion, would later be cited by Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings as a key decision on legal precedent.
1992: Interviews for Supreme Court Clerkship
Kavanaugh interviewed for a clerkship with Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court during the 1992 term but was not offered a position.
1993: Reopens Vincent Foster Death Investigation
In his capacity as an Associate Counsel in the Office of the Independent Counsel, Kavanaugh reopened the investigation into the 1993 death of Vincent Foster.
1993: Law Clerk for Justice Anthony Kennedy
Kavanaugh served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy from 1993 to 1994.
1994: Completes Clerkship with Justice Kennedy
In 1994, Kavanaugh completed his clerkship with Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
1995: Kavanaugh's Mother Becomes Maryland Circuit Court Judge
In 1995, Martha Kavanaugh, Brett Kavanaugh's mother, began her service as a Maryland Circuit Court judge in Montgomery County, Maryland.
1997: Leaves Office of the Independent Counsel
Kavanaugh concluded his role as an Associate Counsel in the Office of the Independent Counsel in 1997.
1997: Brief Stint in Private Practice
Kavanaugh had a brief period of working in private practice from 1997 to 1998.
1997: Joins Kirkland & Ellis
Kavanaugh worked as an associate at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis from 1997 to 1998.
September 1998: Release of the Starr Report
The Starr Report, authored in part by Kavanaugh, was released in September 1998. The report detailed the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal and advocated for Clinton's impeachment. Kavanaugh's role in the report, particularly his push for sexually explicit questions and his characterization of Clinton's actions, drew significant attention and controversy.
1998: Rejoins Starr's Team and Argues Before Supreme Court
In 1998, Kavanaugh rejoined Ken Starr's team as an Associate Counselor and argued his first and only case before the Supreme Court in Swidler & Berlin v. United States. He argued unsuccessfully for the court to disregard attorney-client privilege in the Foster investigation.
1998: Leaves Kirkland & Ellis
Kavanaugh left his position as an associate at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis in 1998.
1999: Returns to Kirkland & Ellis
Kavanaugh returned to Kirkland & Ellis in 1999 and eventually became a partner.
December 2000: Joins George W. Bush's Legal Team
In December 2000, Kavanaugh joined the legal team representing George W. Bush during the Florida ballot recount.
2000: Pro Bono Counsel for Elián González Relatives
In 2000, while at Kirkland & Ellis, Kavanaugh served as pro bono counsel for relatives of Elián González, a young Cuban boy at the center of an international custody dispute.
2000: Authored Amicus Briefs Supporting Religious Activities in Public Places
While at Kirkland & Ellis in 2000, Kavanaugh authored two amicus briefs to the Supreme Court, advocating for the protection of religious activities and expressions in public spaces. One brief pertained to Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, arguing for student-led prayer at football games to be recognized as private speech. The second brief, related to Good News Club v. Milford Central School, argued that a Christian group should have equal access to school facilities for after-school programs.
January 2001: Joins Bush Administration
Kavanaugh joined the Bush administration in January 2001 as an associate for White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales.
2001: Kavanaugh's Mother Concludes Judgeship
Martha Kavanaugh, Brett Kavanaugh's mother, concluded her service as a Maryland Circuit Court judge in 2001.
2002: Expressed Concerns About Denying Legal Counsel to Enemy Combatants
In 2002, Kavanaugh expressed concerns to White House lawyers, suggesting that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy would likely disapprove of denying legal representation to detainees classified as enemy combatants.
July 2003: Becomes Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary
In July 2003, Kavanaugh assumed the role of Assistant to the President and White House staff secretary, succeeding Harriet Miers.
July 25, 2003: Nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
On July 25, 2003, President George W. Bush nominated Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
2003: Nomination to the D.C. Circuit
President Bush nominated Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2003.
2003: Start of Period for Judicial Voting Record Analysis
The year 2003 marked the beginning of a period during which Kavanaugh's judicial voting record was evaluated.
2003: Kavanaugh's 2003 Email on Roe v. Wade Released
In 2003, Brett Kavanaugh wrote in an email that he was unsure if all legal scholars considered Roe v. Wade "settled law." This statement drew scrutiny during his confirmation hearings, with Kavanaugh claiming he was referring to the views of legal scholars, not his own. He emphasized the significance of Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), which reaffirmed Roe v. Wade.
2004: Kavanaugh's Marriage
Brett Kavanaugh married Ashley Estes, former President George W. Bush's personal secretary, in 2004. They have two daughters and reside in Maryland.
May 11, 2006: Senate Judiciary Committee Recommends Confirmation
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 along party lines to recommend Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on May 11, 2006.
May 2006: Confirmation to the D.C. Circuit
After facing contentious hearings and a three-year delay due to accusations of partisanship, Kavanaugh was confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in May 2006.
May 2006: Kavanaugh's Confirmation Hearing for D.C. Circuit
During his confirmation hearing for the District of Columbia Circuit in May 2006, Kavanaugh publicly stated his affiliation with the Republican party.
2006: Appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals
In 2006, Brett Kavanaugh began his tenure as a U.S. circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
2006: ABA Rating Downgraded to "Qualified"
Initially rated "well qualified" (the highest category) by the American Bar Association in 2003, Brett Kavanaugh's rating was downgraded to "qualified" in 2006 after further interviews were conducted.
July 2007: Accused of Lying to the Judiciary Committee
In July 2007, Senators Patrick Leahy and Dick Durbin accused Brett Kavanaugh of providing false information to the Judiciary Committee, specifically regarding his involvement in shaping the Bush administration's policies on detention and interrogation.
2007: Dissented in Doe v. Exxon Mobil Corp.
In 2007, Kavanaugh disagreed with the circuit court's decision to allow a lawsuit alleging human rights abuses by ExxonMobil in Indonesia to move forward (Doe v. Exxon Mobil Corp., 2007). He argued that the claims lacked justiciability and later dissented again when the court ruled that the corporation could be sued under the Alien Tort Statute of 1789.
2007: Kavanaugh Teaches at Georgetown University Law Center
Kavanaugh taught Constitutional Interpretation at Georgetown University Law Center in 2007.
August 2008: Dissented in Sarbanes-Oxley Act Case
In August 2008, Kavanaugh dissented when the D.C. Circuit ruled that the Constitution's Appointments Clause didn't preclude the Sarbanes-Oxley Act from establishing a board whose members weren't directly answerable to the president.
2008: Landmark Supreme Court Ruling on Second Amendment
In 2008, the Supreme Court issued the landmark ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller, which had implications for the Second Amendment.
2008: Kavanaugh's Teaching Career Begins
Kavanaugh began teaching full-term courses on various law subjects at Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Georgetown University Law Center starting in 2008. He was hired as a visiting professor by Elena Kagan and became a well-regarded figure among students.
April 2009: Concurrence in Guantanamo Bay Detainee Case
In April 2009, Kavanaugh wrote a concurrence when the court found that detainees at Guantanamo Bay had no right to advance notice before being transferred.
2009: Kavanaugh Named Samuel Williston Lecturer on Law
Kavanaugh received the honor of Samuel Williston Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School in 2009.
2009: Kavanaugh Publishes Article on Presidential Immunity
In 2009, Kavanaugh argued in the Minnesota Law Review that presidents should be exempt from civil lawsuits while in office to avoid distractions. He stated that impeachment and post-presidency prosecution are sufficient remedies for wrongdoing.
2009: Article on Presidential Immunity
In 2009, Kavanaugh wrote an article defending presidential immunity from prosecution while in office.
June 2010: Concurrence in Al-Shifa Case
In June 2010, Kavanaugh wrote a concurrence in judgment when the court found that the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory owners could not bring a defamation suit against the government.
August 2010: Concurrence in Ghaleb Nassar Al Bihani Case
In August 2010, Kavanaugh wrote a concurrence when the court refused to rehear Ghaleb Nassar Al Bihani's claims about the limits of the Authorization for Use of Military Force.
November 2010: Dissent in GPS Tracking Case
In November 2010, Kavanaugh dissented from the denial of rehearing en banc after the circuit found that attaching a GPS tracking device to a vehicle violated the Fourth Amendment.
2010: Kavanaugh Participates in Boston Marathon
In 2010, Brett Kavanaugh participated in the Boston Marathon with a non-qualifying bib number, suggesting he ran for a charity or as a guest.
2010: Supreme Court Reverses Circuit Court Judgment in Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision in 2010, overturned the circuit court's ruling in the case of Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
October 2011: Dissent in Semi-Automatic Rifle Ban Case
In October 2011, Kavanaugh dissented when the circuit court found that a ban on the sale of semi-automatic rifles was permissible under the Second Amendment.
November 2011: Dissented on Affordable Care Act Case
In November 2011, Kavanaugh dissented when the D.C. Circuit upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). He argued that the court lacked jurisdiction in the case and compared the individual mandate to a tax.
2011: Kavanaugh Teaches at Yale Law School
In 2011, Kavanaugh taught National Security and Foreign Relations Law at Yale Law School.
March 2012: Opinion in Vaccine Safety Case
In March 2012, Kavanaugh wrote the opinion in Coalition for Mercury-Free Drugs v. Sebelius, holding that opponents of certain vaccines lacked standing to challenge FDA safety determinations.
October 2012: Opinion on Ex Post Facto Clause
In October 2012, Kavanaugh wrote an opinion finding that the Constitution's Ex Post Facto Clause made it unlawful to prosecute Salim Hamdan under the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
2012: Supreme Court Affirms GPS Tracking Judgment
In 2012, the Supreme Court affirmed the circuit's judgment in United States v. Jones, a case in which Kavanaugh had dissented.
2013: Issued Writ of Mandamus in Yucca Mountain Case
Kavanaugh issued an unusual writ of mandamus in 2013, compelling the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to advance the licensing process for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, a decision opposed by Judge Merrick Garland.
April 2014: Dissented in SeaWorld Case
In April 2014, Kavanaugh dissented when the court ruled that Labor Secretary Tom Perez had the authority to issue workplace safety citations to SeaWorld concerning multiple worker deaths caused by Tilikum, an orca.
2014: Supreme Court Reversals in Environmental Cases
Kavanaugh's rulings on environmental regulations faced multiple reversals by the Supreme Court in 2014. The Supreme Court reversed a decision by Kavanaugh in EPA v. EME Homer City Generation, L.P. (2014). He also dissented from the denial of a rehearing en banc of a unanimous decision upholding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, which the Supreme Court later overturned (Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency, 2014).
2014: Concurred in Country of Origin Labeling Case
In 2014, Kavanaugh agreed with the en banc D.C. Circuit's determination that the First Amendment's Free Speech Clause didn't prohibit the government from mandating country-of-origin labeling on meat products.
2014: Kavanaugh Begins Teaching at Harvard Law School
Kavanaugh started teaching a course on the Supreme Court at Harvard Law School in 2014.
2014: Wrote Dissent in Sissel v. United States Department of Health & Human Services
After a unanimous panel ruled that the Affordable Care Act didn't violate the Origination Clause in Sissel v. United States Department of Health & Human Services (2014), Kavanaugh penned a lengthy dissent against the denial of a rehearing en banc.
2014: Concurrence in Ali al-Bahlul Case
In 2014, Kavanaugh concurred in the judgment when the court found that Ali al-Bahlul could be retroactively convicted of war crimes under certain conditions.
May 2015: Dissented in Priests for Life v. HHS
In May 2015, Kavanaugh dissented from a decision denying an en banc rehearing of Priests for Life v. HHS, a case upholding the ACA's contraceptive mandate accommodations against claims made under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
2015: Kavanaugh Runs Boston Marathon Again
Brett Kavanaugh ran the Boston Marathon again in 2015, once more using a non-qualifying bib number.
2015: Concurrence in NSA Metadata Collection Case
In 2015, Kavanaugh concurred when the circuit court denied an en banc rehearing of its decision to vacate a district court order blocking the NSA's warrantless bulk collection of telephony metadata.
2015: Found those Directly Regulated by CFPB Could Challenge its Constitutionality
In 2015, Kavanaugh ruled that entities under the direct regulation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) were entitled to challenge the constitutionality of its structural design.
2015: Supreme Court Reversal in Michigan v. EPA
In 2015, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 vote, reversed Kavanaugh's dissent from a per curiam decision that had allowed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to bypass cost-benefit analyses (Michigan v. EPA, 2015).
2015: Kavanaugh Concludes Teaching at Harvard Law School
Kavanaugh concluded his tenure teaching at Harvard Law School in 2015.
February 2016: Dissent in Qualified Immunity Case
In February 2016, Kavanaugh dissented when the en banc circuit refused to rehear police officers' rejected claims of qualified immunity for arresting partygoers in a vacant house.
October 2016: Plurality Opinion in al-Bahlul Case
In October 2016, Kavanaugh wrote the plurality opinion when the court found al-Bahlul could be convicted by a military commission even if his offenses weren't internationally recognized war crimes.
October 2016: Ruled CFPB's Design Unconstitutional
In October 2016, Kavanaugh authored an opinion for a divided panel, declaring the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) unconstitutional. This ruling aimed to make the CFPB director removable by the U.S. president.
2016: Potential Shift in Supreme Court Median Vote
The year 2016 was a pivotal point in the potential shift of the Supreme Court's median vote, with the confirmation of Merrick Garland being a key factor.
2016: Supreme Court Vacates Circuit's Judgment in Zubik v. Burwell
In Zubik v. Burwell (2016), the Supreme Court, in a per curiam decision, vacated the D.C. Circuit's judgment.
2016: Dissented in Net Neutrality Case
In 2016, he opposed the en banc circuit's refusal to revisit a rejected challenge to the net neutrality rule in United States Telecom Ass'n v. FCC (2016). He wrote: "Congress did not clearly authorize the FCC to issue the net neutrality rule."
April 2017: Senate Invokes "Nuclear Option" for Supreme Court Nominations
In April 2017, the Senate voted to invoke the "nuclear option," changing the voting requirement for Supreme Court nominations from a three-fifths supermajority to a simple majority. This change paved the way for Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation later that year.
October 2017: Garza v. Hargan Decision
In October 2017, Kavanaugh was part of a divided panel in the Garza v. Hargan case, ruling that the Office of Refugee Resettlement didn't violate the constitutional rights of an unaccompanied minor seeking an abortion by requiring her to have a sponsor before traveling for the procedure, as long as the process was "expeditious." This decision was later reversed by the full D.C. Circuit.
2017: Speech on William Rehnquist
In 2017, Kavanaugh gave a speech praising former Chief Justice William Rehnquist's stances on abortion and the death penalty.
2017: Kavanaugh Testifies about Former Judge Kozinski's Sexual Harassment Allegations
In 2017, during his confirmation hearings, Brett Kavanaugh addressed allegations of sexual harassment against Judge Alex Kozinski, for whom he had clerked. Kavanaugh expressed surprise at the allegations, despite reports that Kozinski's behavior was widely known in judicial circles. Kavanaugh's statements regarding his knowledge of Kozinski's behavior were later disputed.
January 2018: D.C. Circuit Reverses Ruling on CFPB
In January 2018, the full D.C. Circuit, by a 7-3 vote, reversed the previous judgment concerning the CFPB's structure, with Kavanaugh dissenting in this decision.
July 2, 2018: Interview with President Trump for Supreme Court Vacancy
On July 2, 2018, Kavanaugh was interviewed by President Trump as a potential nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy.
July 9, 2018: Nomination to the Supreme Court
On July 9, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
July 2018: Detainee Treatment Controversy Resurfaces
The controversy surrounding Kavanaugh's alleged involvement in formulating the Bush administration's detention and interrogation policies resurfaced in July 2018 during his Supreme Court nomination.
July 2018: Kavanaugh Shortlisted for Supreme Court
In early July 2018, Brett Kavanaugh was included on a shortlist of potential nominees for the Supreme Court vacancy. This marked a significant step in his career, but also led to increased scrutiny of his past, including the emergence of sexual assault allegations.
July 30, 2018: Christine Blasey Ford Alleges Sexual Assault by Kavanaugh
On July 30, 2018, Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor, sent a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her while they were in high school. Ford requested confidentiality, but her allegation became public in September, sparking a major controversy during Kavanaugh's confirmation process.
September 4, 2018: Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings Commence for Kavanaugh's Nomination
On September 4, 2018, the Senate Judiciary Committee began public hearings on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court. The hearings were marked by controversy from the start, with Democratic members objecting to the lack of records from Kavanaugh's time in the George W. Bush administration and the late arrival of a large volume of documents. Despite these objections, the first day of hearings concluded with statements from each senator and Kavanaugh himself.
September 5, 2018: Kavanaugh Questioned by Senators in Second Day of Hearings
On September 5, 2018, during the second day of his confirmation hearings, Brett Kavanaugh maintained his position of not expressing opinions on matters that might come before the Supreme Court. He refused to promise recusal from any case, including those involving President Trump, and declined to comment on specific legal issues. The day was again marked by protests from the audience and procedural objections from Democratic senators.
September 2018: Sean Wilentz Criticizes Kavanaugh's Role in Foster Investigation
In September 2018, Princeton University history professor Sean Wilentz published a New York Times op-ed criticizing Kavanaugh's involvement in the Vincent Foster death investigation. Wilentz argued that Kavanaugh had used federal funds and resources to pursue partisan conspiracy theories.
September 20, 2018: Allegations Regarding Clerkship Hiring Practices
On September 20, 2018, reports emerged about allegations from Yale professors regarding Kavanaugh's clerkship hiring practices, suggesting potential bias.
September 23, 2018: Deborah Ramirez Accuses Kavanaugh of Sexual Misconduct
On September 23, 2018, The New Yorker published an article detailing a new sexual misconduct allegation against Brett Kavanaugh by Deborah Ramirez, a former Yale classmate. Ramirez claimed that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a party during their college years. Kavanaugh denied the allegation, and while some classmates supported Ramirez's claims, no firsthand witnesses to the alleged incident were found.
October 4, 2018: White House Finds No Corroboration of Ford's Allegation
On October 4, 2018, the White House announced that an FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh's past had found no evidence to support Christine Blasey Ford's sexual assault allegation. Ford's attorneys disputed this conclusion, claiming that the investigation was not conducted with the intention of uncovering the truth.
October 6, 2018: Becomes Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Brett Kavanaugh began his service as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States on October 6, 2018.
October 9, 2018: Kavanaugh Begins Tenure as Supreme Court Justice
Brett Kavanaugh officially began his tenure as a Supreme Court Justice on October 9, 2018. His first cases heard were Stokeling v. United States and United States v. Stitt.
December 2018: Kavanaugh Votes Against Hearing Cases on Medicaid and Planned Parenthood
In December 2018, Brett Kavanaugh joined the majority in declining to hear cases from Louisiana and Kansas that sought to prevent women from using Medicaid to access healthcare at Planned Parenthood clinics. The decision upheld lower court rulings protecting patients' rights to choose their healthcare providers.
December 2018: Ethics Complaints Against Kavanaugh Dismissed
In December 2018, eighty-three ethics complaints filed against Brett Kavanaugh for his conduct during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings were dismissed by a special federal panel of judges. The panel cited a lack of authority to investigate Supreme Court justices.
2018: End of Period for Judicial Voting Record Analysis
The year 2018 marked the end of a period during which Kavanaugh's judicial voting record was evaluated.
2018: Supreme Court Vacates D.C. Circuit's Judgment in Garza v. Hargan
In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court, responding to a petition from the Solicitor General, vacated the en banc D.C. Circuit's judgment in Garza v. Hargan. The girl's claim was ultimately dismissed as moot, preventing the case from setting a legal precedent.
2018: Supreme Court Reverses Qualified Immunity Judgment
In 2018, the Supreme Court unanimously reversed the circuit's judgment in District of Columbia v. Wesby, a case in which Kavanaugh had dissented.
2018: Kavanaugh's Income as Judge and Lecturer
In 2018, Kavanaugh's earnings were reported as $220,600 for his role as a federal judge and an additional $27,000 for his lecturing position at Harvard Law School.
2018: Kavanaugh Ends Teaching at Harvard Law School
Kavanaugh's teaching at Harvard Law School ended in 2018.
January 8, 2019: Kavanaugh Authors First Supreme Court Opinion
On January 8, 2019, Brett Kavanaugh authored his first Supreme Court opinion in the case of Henry Schein, Inc. v. Archer & White Sales, Inc. The unanimous decision reversed an appeals court ruling regarding arbitration clauses in contracts.
February 7, 2019: Kavanaugh Votes Against Delaying Execution for Muslim Prisoner's Religious Request
On February 7, 2019, Brett Kavanaugh sided with the majority in a 5-4 decision that denied a Muslim prisoner's request to delay his execution to have an imam present.
February 2019: Kavanaugh Signals Openness to Reconsidering Abortion Law in Louisiana Case
In February 2019, Brett Kavanaugh joined three conservative justices in rejecting a stay of a Louisiana law restricting abortion. However, he wrote a separate opinion indicating his willingness to reconsider the law's legality if concerns raised by abortion rights groups materialized.
February 19, 2019: Kavanaugh Votes to Block Execution of Texas Man with Intellectual Disability
On February 19, 2019, Brett Kavanaugh joined the majority, including Chief Justice Roberts and the Court's four liberal justices, in a 6-3 decision to block the execution of a Texas man with an intellectual disability.
September 2019: "The Education of Brett Kavanaugh" Published
In September 2019, "The Education of Brett Kavanaugh: An Investigation" by Kate Kelly and Robin Pogrebin was published. The book presented new information regarding the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh, including claims that a potential witness, Leland Keyser, doubted Christine Blasey Ford's account and felt pressured to corroborate it.
2019: Yale Professor Returns to Teaching
In 2019, Chua, one of the Yale professors involved in the allegations against Kavanaugh, returned to regular teaching after an investigation.
2019: Kavanaugh Withdraws from Teaching and Joins George Mason University
Following sexual misconduct allegations, Kavanaugh withdrew from teaching at Harvard and joined George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School as a visiting professor in 2019.
June 15, 2020: Bostock v. Clayton County Supreme Court Ruling
On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that workplace discrimination protections extend to sexual orientation and gender identity. Kavanaugh dissented, arguing that sexual orientation discrimination and sex discrimination are distinct and any change should be made by Congress.
June 29, 2020: Kavanaugh Dissents in Louisiana Abortion Law Case
Brett Kavanaugh dissented in the June 29, 2020, Supreme Court ruling in June Medical Services L. L. C. v. Russo, which struck down a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have hospital admitting privileges.
July 2020: Trump v. Vance Supreme Court Ruling
In July 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the Manhattan District Attorney could access Trump's tax records, but Congress's access required further legal process. Kavanaugh joined the majority, resulting in the DA's access pending Congressional proceedings.
October 2020: Kim Davis Same-Sex Marriage License Case
In October 2020, Kavanaugh joined an "apparently unanimous" decision to deny an appeal by Kim Davis, a county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
November 2020: Kavanaugh's Circuit Court Assignments Changed
In November 2020, Brett Kavanaugh's circuit court assignments were changed. He was reassigned from the Seventh Circuit to both the Sixth and Eighth Circuits. This change in assignment primarily affects his responsibilities in responding to emergency requests.
2020: Supreme Court Rulings on Election-Related Cases
Eight days before the 2020 election, Kavanaugh concurred with discarding late absentee votes in Wisconsin. He also voted to grant a stay preventing late-delivered ballots from being counted, resulting in a split court and upholding Pennsylvania's ruling to count all votes. He also sided with a 5-3 majority to allow voting extension in North Carolina.
2020: Emerges as a Swing Vote
Following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020, Kavanaugh gained recognition as a potential swing vote on the Court.
June 2021: National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston Supreme Court Case
In June 2021, during the National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston case, Kavanaugh stated that the NCAA operates as a "massive money-raising enterprise" that unfairly compensates student athletes. The court unanimously ruled that college sports are subject to antitrust laws.
September 2021: Kavanaugh Votes to Uphold Texas Heartbeat Act
In September 2021, Brett Kavanaugh voted with the majority in a 5-4 decision to deny an emergency petition to block the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
November 2021: Mercy San Juan Medical Center Transgender Patient Case
In November 2021, Kavanaugh voted with the majority to decline to hear an appeal from Mercy San Juan Medical Center, a Catholic hospital that sought to deny a hysterectomy to a transgender patient on religious grounds. This decision upheld a lower court ruling in favor of the patient.
January 2022: Kavanaugh Supports Allowing Execution in Alabama Case
Brett Kavanaugh voted with the majority in a 5-4 decision in January 2022, allowing an execution to proceed in Alabama.
June 8, 2022: Attempted Murder of Brett Kavanaugh
On June 8, 2022, Nicholas John Roske traveled to Kavanaugh's home intending to kill him due to dissatisfaction with the leaked Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization draft opinion and potential loosening of gun control laws. Roske was apprehended and charged with attempted murder.
June 2022: Kavanaugh Votes to Overturn Roe v. Wade
Brett Kavanaugh voted with the majority in the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case in June 2022, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion in the United States.
June 2022: Target of Assassination Plot
In June 2022, Brett Kavanaugh was the target of an assassination plot. The suspect aimed to disrupt the rulings in Dobbs and Bruen.
2022: Protests at Kavanaugh's Home Following Dobbs Leak
Following the leak of a draft opinion for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case in 2022, Brett Kavanaugh's residence became a focal point for protests.
2023: Justice Documentary Revives Kavanaugh Allegations
Doug Liman's documentary "Justice," released in 2023, revisits the sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh. The film features an audio recording of Max Stier, a Yale colleague of Kavanaugh's, corroborating Deborah Ramirez's allegations and suggesting Kavanaugh's involvement in another incident with an unnamed female freshman.
2023: Kavanaugh Authors Opinion Supporting DNA Testing for Texas Death Row Inmate
In 2023, Brett Kavanaugh authored the majority opinion in Reed v. Goertz, ruling that Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed could pursue DNA testing on case evidence, despite the state's statute of limitations on such testing.