Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Supreme Court

Brett Kavanaugh

Brett Kavanaugh is an American lawyer and jurist who has served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since 2018.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Brett Kavanaugh is an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed in 2018. His nomination and confirmation drew significant public attention and controversy.

What it is

Brett Kavanaugh is an American lawyer and jurist born in Washington, D.C., in 1965. He graduated from Yale College and Yale Law School, then held legal roles in the executive branch and federal investigations. He served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 2006 to 2018 before being nominated to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump.

Why it matters to Canada

U.S. Supreme Court decisions can affect cross-border legal, trade, immigration, and constitutional issues that matter to Canada. Kavanaugh's votes on cases involving environmental regulations, tax treaties, or trade agreements may have direct implications for Canadian interests.

Key details

Kavanaugh's confirmation process in 2018 was highly contentious and received extensive national attention. He is generally identified with the Court's conservative bloc and has participated in major decisions since taking his seat on October 6, 2018.

In short

  • Kavanaugh was born in Washington, D.C., in 1965.
  • He graduated from Yale College and Yale Law School.
  • He served on the D.C. Circuit from 2006 to 2018.
  • He was confirmed to the Supreme Court on October 6, 2018.
Canadian angle

Kavanaugh is relevant to Canadian readers because U.S. Supreme Court decisions can affect cross-border legal, trade, immigration, and constitutional issues that matter to Canada and Canadians.

Quick questions

Who is Brett Kavanaugh?
Brett Kavanaugh is an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed in 2018 after previously serving on the D.C. Circuit.
When was Brett Kavanaugh born?
He was born on February 12, 1965.
What schools did Brett Kavanaugh attend?
He attended Yale College and Yale Law School.

Sources

  1. Supreme Court Historical Society — https://supremecourthistory.org/supreme-court-justices/associate-justice-brett-m-kavanaugh/
    Supports: Birth date and place, education, clerkships, government service, D.C. Circuit service, and Supreme Court appointment date.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Brett-Kavanaugh
    Supports: Biography, nomination and confirmation details, and context on the controversy surrounding the 2018 hearings.
  3. Oyez — https://www.oyez.org/justices/brett_m_kavanaugh
    Supports: Confirmation date, seat filled, education, D.C. Circuit service, and family details.