Encyclopedia · Biography
Brett Kavanaugh
American jurist and associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Personal details
- Full name
- Brett Michael Kavanaugh
- Born
- February 12, 1965 · Washington, D.C.
- Parents
- Everett Edward Kavanaugh Jr.; Martha Kavanaugh
- Education
- Yale College, B.A. (1987); Yale Law School, J.D. (1990)
- Spouse
- Ashley Estes Kavanaugh (m. 2004)
- Children
- Margaret and Liza
- Religion
- Roman Catholic (reported)
- Military service
- No confirmed military service
- Judicial positions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (2006–2018); Supreme Court (2018– )
Brett Michael Kavanaugh (born 1965) is an American jurist who has served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court since October 2018. He previously served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Family and education
Kavanaugh was born in Washington, D.C., to Everett “Ed” Kavanaugh, a trade-association executive, and Martha Kavanaugh, who worked as a teacher, prosecutor and judge. He graduated from Yale College in 1987 and Yale Law School in 1990. He married Ashley Estes in 2004; they have two daughters, Margaret and Liza.
Early legal career
Kavanaugh clerked for federal appellate judges Walter Stapleton and Alex Kozinski and Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. He worked for the U.S. solicitor general and in the independent counsel’s office before returning to private practice at Kirkland & Ellis.
White House and appellate service
Kavanaugh worked in President George W. Bush’s White House as an associate counsel from 2001 through 2003 and as staff secretary from 2003 to 2006. Bush appointed him to the D.C. Circuit in 2006.
Supreme Court
President Donald Trump nominated him to the Supreme Court in July 2018; the Senate confirmed him and he took his seat October 6, 2018. His confirmation involved contested allegations that Kavanaugh denied; arguments and investigative findings should be attributed to their original records, not compressed into unsourced conclusions.
References
Research compiled through November 12, 2026. Sources and historical roles are dated where known.