Brett Kavanaugh Biography

Brett Michael Kavanaugh was born on February 12, 1965, in Washington, D.C., U.S., to an Irish Catholic couple, Everett Edward Kavanaugh, Jr. and Martha Kavanaugh. His father was a lawyer and a lobbyist for the cosmetics industry. His mother was initially a school teacher and later served as a prosecutor in the Maryland state attorney's office and a state court judge. Kavanaugh has no siblings.

He was the captain of the basketball team and a wide receiver and cornerback on the football team of the 'Georgetown Preparatory School.' He graduated school in 1983. Kavanaugh then went to ‘Yale University,’ eventually graduating with a bachelor's degree “cum laude” in history in 1987. He also obtained a law degree from 'Yale Law School' (1990). While in law school, he contributed to the 'Yale Law Journal.' He also worked as a notes editor for the journal.

In 1988, Brett Kavanaugh became a member of the 'Federalist Society.' He earned a job as a law clerk under federal appellate court judges Walter King Stapleton of the ‘Third Circuit’ and Alex Kozinski of the ‘Ninth Circuit.’

Brett Kavanaugh�also interviewed for a clerkship under ‘Supreme Court’ Chief Justice William Rehnquist but was rejected. In 1992, the solicitor general of the United States, Ken Starr, granted him a one-year fellowship, and he served as an associate counsel on Starr’s legal team of the ‘Independent Counsel’ from 1994 to 1997. He also interned at 'Munger, Tolles & Olson.'

While working for Starr, Kavanaugh reopened the Vincent Foster death case, dating back to 1993, which eventually turned out to be a suicide. In 2018, 'Princeton University' history professor Sean Wilentz accused Kavanaugh of using federal financial aid for the investigation.

Brett Kavanaugh�served as a clerk in the office of ‘Supreme Court’ Justice Anthony Kennedy from 1993 to 1994. He practiced as a private lawyer from 1997 to 1998.

He then joined Starr again for the ‘Swidler & Berlin vs. United States' (1998) case. Kavanaugh played a key role in writing the U.S. federal government report of Starr's ‘Independent Counsel’ regarding the Bill Clinton–Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. Released in September 1998, the report led to Clinton's impeachment.

Kavanaugh joined the law firm named 'Kirkland & Ellis' in 1997. He quit the following year, only to rejoin in 1999.

In December 2000, Brett Kavanaugh provided legal assistance to George W. Bush in prohibiting the election poll recount in Florida. ‘White House’ counsel Alberto Gonzales appointed him as an associate under the new administration of Bush. In that capacity, he was responsible for the appointment of Chief Justice John Roberts and assisted in the investigation of the 'Enron Corporation' bankruptcy scandal. However, he was unsuccessful in nominating attorney Miguel Estrada due to an ongoing controversy.

In July 2003, Kavanaugh was appointed as an assistant to the president and also made the ‘White House’ staff secretary. President Bush nominated him to the ‘United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit,’ but he was not confirmed for almost 3 years. His nomination was finally approved in May 2006, and he served as the fourth judge to the ‘D.C. Circuit’ until October 6, 2018.

Being a staunch conservative, he favored the ‘Second Amendment’ and religious freedom. He earned prominence and acclaim for writing opinions in several significant cases regarding the 'Environmental Protection Agency' (EPA) and the 'Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.'

Kavanaugh simultaneously served as a part-time law professor at the 'Georgetown University Law Center,' teaching a course on “Constitutional Interpretation” in 2007. He taught full-term courses on “Separation of Powers” (2008 to 2015) and the ‘Supreme Court’ at 'Harvard Law School' and on the “National Security and Foreign Relations Law” at 'Yale Law School' in 2011.

In 2009, He became the ''Samuel Williston Lecturer on Law'' at 'Harvard Law School.'

In November 2011, Kavanaugh opposed the 'Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act' (ACA). In 2013, Kavanaugh passed a prerogative writ that mandated the license of the 'Nuclear Regulatory Commission' for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

In October 2016, Brett Kavanaugh disagreed with the rule that the U.S. president could remove the director of the 'Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.' He called the law a ''threat to individual liberty." Hence, he changed it, claiming that the president could remove the director at will. The en banc ‘D.C. Circuit’ later reversed the judgement over Kavanaugh's dissent.

In July 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh to the ‘Supreme Court.’ However, both the political parties contested the confirmation.

On October 6, 2018, the senate confirmed Kavanaugh's nomination as one of the six Roman Catholic justices in the ‘Supreme Court.’ He was appointed to the ‘Seventh Circuit.’

On January 8, 2019, Brett Kavanaugh wrote his first opinion, for the “Henry Schein, Inc. vs. Archer & White Sales, Inc.” case. He was part of the majority for decisions related to capital punishment.

After Kavanaugh was accused of sexual misconduct, 'Harvard Law School' graduates called for his resignation as a lecturer. He then voluntarily resigned, but only for the 2019 winter semester.

In the summer of 2019, Kavanaugh was appointed as a visiting professor at the 'Antonin Scalia Law School' of the 'George Mason University.'

The ‘Judiciary Committee’ had accused Kavanaugh of playing a role in structuring custodial and interrogation policies for Bush's administration, an allegation he had denied back then. In July 2007, senators Patrick Leahy and Dick Durbin criticized him for misleading the committee.

In July 2018, while Kavanaugh was nominated for the ‘Supreme Court,’ he was accused of sexually assaulting a 'Palo Alto University' professor, Christine Blasey Ford, when they were in high school. The controversy surfaced in the wake of the ''#MeToo'' movement on social media. Two other women also made similar accusations. Kavanaugh maintained his innocence.

The matter was taken to the ‘Senate Judiciary Committee’ to decide whether his nomination was to be confirmed. However, the subsequent ‘FBI’ investigation was delayed, and the senate confirmed Kavanaugh's nomination on October 6, 2018. On October 4, the ‘White House’ dropped the charges due to lack of evidence to support Ford's allegations.

Brett Kavanaugh has been married to Ashley Estes since 2004. Ashley worked as the personal secretary to President Bush. Kavanaugh and Ashley have two daughters.

He participated in the 'Boston Marathon' in 2010 and 2015.

Kavanaugh is a devoted Catholic and regularly reads the ‘Bible’ at the 'Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament' in Washington. He also participates in various church programs and has taught at the 'Washington Jesuit Academy.'