Supreme Court Nominations Research Guide

On July 9, 2018,  President Trump nominated Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Brett M. Kavanaugh to fill the seat previously held by Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy. Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings began on September 4, 2018. On October 6, 2018, the Senate confirmed Brett M. Kavanaugh by a vote of 50-48 (1 not voting, 1 absent). He was sworn in the same day.

• Senate Judiciary Committee: List of documents submitted with committee questionnaire and letters sent and received in connection with the nomination.
• C-Span video of confirmation hearings.

• United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 
• Background from the White House
• Profile on SCOTUSblog
• Profile from the New York Times
• Profile from the Washington Post
• Profile archived from the White House Judicial Nomination for the United States Court of Appeals
• Wikipedia entry

• Discussions of the Kavanaugh Nomination Appearing in the Congressional Record (May 26, 2006) (see pp. S5303-S5311).
• Discussions of the Kavanaugh Nomination Appearing in the Congressional Record (May 25, 2006) (see pp. S5296-S5298).
• Discussions of the Kavanaugh Nomination Appearing in the Congressional Record (May 25, 2006) (see pp. S5191-S5202).
• Congressional Hearing: Nominee to be U.S. Court of Appeals Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit (May 9, 2006).
• Congressional Hearing: Nominee to be U.S. Court of Appeals Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit (April 27, 2004).

Books

• Author:

• Brett M. Kavanaugh, From the Bench: The Constitutional Statesmanship of Chief Justice William Rehnquist (2017)

• Co-Author:
  • Bryan A. Garner, et al., The Law of Judicial Precedent (2016) [Call Number: Reading Room Study Aids KF429 .G37 2016]

Articles

• Brett M. Kavanaugh, Comment, Two Challenges for the Judge as Umpire: Statutory Ambiguity and Constitutional Exceptions, 92 Notre Dame L. Rev. 1907 (2017).
• Brett M. Kavanaugh, Comment, The Judge as Umpire: Ten Principles, 65 Cath. U. L. Rev. 683 (2016).
• Brett M. Kavanaugh, Fixing Statutory Interpretation, 129 Harv. L. Rev. 2118 (2016) (Reviewing Robert A. Katzmann, Judging Statutes (2014)).
• Brett M. Kavanaugh, Comment, The Courts and the Administrative State, 64 Case W. Res. L. Rev. 711 (2014).
• Brett M. Kavanaugh, Our Anchor for 225 Years and Counting: The Enduring Significance of the Precise Text of the Constitution, 89 Notre Dame L. Rev. 1907 (2014).
• Brett M. Kavanaugh et al., Comment, A Dialogue with Federal Judges on the Role of History in Interpretation, 80 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 1889 (2012).
• Brett M. Kavanaugh, Separation of Powers during the Forty-Fourth Presidency and Beyond, 93 Minn. L. Rev. 1454 (2009).
• Brett M. Kavanaugh, The President and the Independent Counsel, 86 Geo. L.J. 2133 (1998).
• Brett M. Kavanaugh, Note, Defense Presence and Participation: A Procedural Minimum for Batson v. Kentucky Hearings, 99 Yale L.J. 187 (1989).

U.S. Supreme Court

• Good News Club v. Milford Cent. Sch.:
  • Westlaw: Brief of Amicus Curiae Sally Campbell in Support of Petitioners, Good News Club v. Milford Cent. Sch., 533 U.S. 98 (2001) (No. 99-2036), 2000 WL 1784193.
  • Lexis: Brief of Amicus Curiae Sally Campbell in Support of Petitioners, Good News Club v. Milford Cent. Sch., 533 U.S. 98 (2001) (No. 99-2036), 2000 U.S. S. Ct. Briefs LEXIS 707.
• Gonzalez v. Reno:
  • Petition for Writ of Certiorari, Gonzalez v. Reno, 530 U.S. 1270 (2000) (No. 99-2079), on Westlaw: 2000 WL 34014582.
• Santa Fe Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Doe:
  • Westlaw: Brief of Amici Curiae Congressman Steve Largent and Congressman J.C. Watts in Support of Petitioner, Santa Fe Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290 (2000) (No. 99-62), 1999 WL 1272963 
  • Lexis: Brief of Amici Curiae Congressman Steve Largent and Congressman J.C. Watts in Support of Petitioner, Santa Fe Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290 (2000) (No. 99-62), 1999 U.S. S. Ct. Briefs LEXIS 399.
• Geier v. Am. Honda Motor Co.:
  • Brief of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc., as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents, Geier v. Am. Honda Motor Co., 529 U.S. 861 (2000) (No. 98-1811), on Westlaw: 1999 WL 1049898.
• Rice v. Cayetano:
  • Westlaw: Brief of Amicus Curiae Center for Equal Opportunity, New York Civil Rights Coalition, Carl Cohen, and Abigail Thernstrom in Support of Petitioner, Rice v. Cayetano, 528 U.S. 495 (2000) (No. 98-818), 1999 WL 345639.
  • Lexis: Brief of Amicus Curiae Center for Equal Opportunity, New York Civil Rights Coalition, Carl Cohen, and Abigail Thernstrom in Support of Petitioner, Rice v. Cayetano, 528 U.S. 495 (2000) (No. 98-818), 1999 U.S. S. Ct. Briefs LEXIS 662.
• United States v. Clinton:
  • Reply Brief, United States v. Clinton, 524 U.S. 912 (1998) (No. 97-1924), on Westlaw): 1998 WL 34112660.
• Swindler & Berlin v. United States:
  • Brief for the United States, Swindler & Berlin v. United States, 524 U.S. 399 (1998) (No. 97-1192), on Westlaw:1998 WL 271193.
• Lewis v. Brunswick Corp.:
  • Westlaw: Brief of Amicus Curiae General Motors Corporation in Support of Respondent, Lewis v. Brunswick Corp., 523 U.S. 1113 (1998) (No. 97-288),1998 WL 35188.
  • Lexis: Brief of Amicus Curiae General Motors Corporation in Support of Respondent, Lewis v. Brunswick Corp., 523 U.S. 1113 (1998) (No. 97-288), 1998 U.S. S. Ct. Briefs LEXIS 82.

Circuit Courts of Appeal

• Mediaone Grp., Inc. v. County of Henrico, Va.:
  • Reply Brief of the Intervenors-Defendants, Mediaone Grp., Inc. v. County of Henrico, Va., 257 F.3d 356 (4th Cir. 2001) (Nos. 00-1680, 00-1709, 00-1719), on Westlaw: 2000 WL 34001566.
• Mediaone Grp., Inc. v. County of Henrico, Va.:
  • Brief of the Intervenors-Defendants, Mediaone Grp., Inc. v. County of Henrico, Va., 257 F.3d 356 (4th Cir. 2001) (Nos. 00-1680, 00-1709, 00-1719), on Westlaw: 2000 WL 33992267.
• Mercury Commc’ns Ltd. v. Commc’ns Telesystems Int’l:
  • Reply Brief of Appellant, Mercury Commc’ns Ltd. v. Commc’ns Telesystems Int’l, 202 F.3d 277 (9th Cir. 1999) (No. 99-56358), on Westlaw: 1999 WL 33622099.
• Mercury Commc’ns Ltd. v. Commc’ns Telesystems Int’l:
  • Opening Brief of Appellant, Mercury Commc’ns Ltd. v. Commc’ns Telesystems Int’l, 202 F.3d 277 (9th Cir. 1999) (No. 99-56358), on Westlaw: 1999 WL 33622100.
• GTE S. Inc. v. Morrison:
  • Reply Brief for Appellant GTE South Incorporated, GTE S. Inc. v. Morrison, 199 F.3d 733 (4th Cir. 1999) (No. 98-1887), on Westlaw: 1999 WL 33613571.
• GTE S. Inc. v. Morrison:
  • Brief for Appellant GTE South Incorporated, GTE S. Inc. v. Morrison, 199 F.3d 733 (4th Cir. 1999) (No. 98-1887), on Westlaw: 1999 WL 33615188.
• In re Sealed Case:
  • Brief of Appellee United States, In re Sealed Case, 148 F.3d 1100 (D.C. Cir. 1998) (Nos. 98-3060, 98-3062, 98-3072), on Westlaw: 1998 WL 35240369.
• Meineke Disc. Muffler Shops, Inc. v. Broussard:
  • Reply and Answering Brief of Appellants/Cross-Appellees, Meineke Disc. Muffler Shops, Inc. v. Broussard, 155 F.3d 331 (4th Cir. 1998) (Nos. 97-1808, 97-1847), on Westlaw: 1998 WL 34089739.

District Courts

• Mediaone Grp., Inc. v. County of Henrico, Va.:
  • Answer, Mediaone Grp., Inc. v. County of Henrico, Va., 97 F. Supp. 2d 712 (E.D. Va. 2000) (Nos. 3: 00-CV-33), on Westlaw: 2000 WL 35605570.
• GTE Internetworking Inc. v. Telecomms. Inc.:
  • Complaint, GTE Internetworking Inc. v. Telecomms. Inc., No. 2:99-CV-01737, on Westlaw: 1999 WL 33756899 (W.D. Pa. Oct. 25, 1999).

• Swindler & Berlin v. United States:
  • Oral Argument Transcript, Swindler & Berlin v. United States, 524 U.S. 399 (1998) (No. 97-1192), on Lexis: 1998 U.S. Trans. LEXIS 48.

National Archives, Records of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr, Brett Kavanaugh Attorney Work Files

Judge Kavanaugh’s attorney work files from his tenure with the Office of Independent Counsel (OIC) serving as an Associate Independent Counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr from September 6, 1994 until November 20, 1997 and again from April 27, 1998 until December 1, 1998.

George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Records on Brett M. Kavanaugh

Records related to Brett M. Kavanaugh's service in the White House Counsel’s Office and the White House Office of the Staff Secretary under the Administration of President George W. Bush.

• Video: Judge Brett Kavanaugh complete remarks, C-SPAN (July 9, 2018). Complete remarks from Judge Brett Kavanaugh after being nominated to the Supreme Court by President Trump.
• Video: Commencement Address: The Honorable Brett M. Kavanaugh Catholic University of America Law School (June 6, 2018).
• Video: A Conversation with Federal Judges About Federal Courts, Harvard Law School (November 9, 2017). Discussing the federal judiciary environment and judges role in interpreting the Constitution and statutes and checking the other branches of law.
• Video/Transcript: Separation of Powers, C-SPAN (October 25, 2017). Judge Brett Kavanaugh spoke at the Heritage Foundation about the role the judiciary branch plays in maintaining the separation of powers of the government’s three branches.
• Video: Constitutional Statesmanship of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, American Enterprise Institute (September 18, 2017). Discussing the jurisprudence and legacy of the late Justice Rehnquist on the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.
• Video/Transcript: Federal Courts and Public Policy, C-SPAN (March 31, 2016).  Judge Brett Kavanaugh was interviewed by Paul Gigot as part of an American Enterprise Institute event on politics and the Supreme Court.
• Video: On the Issues with Mike Gousha, Judge Brett Kavanaugh & Ted Ullyot, (April 13, 2016). On the Issues with Mike Gousha, Brett Kavanaugh and Ted Ullyot have a conversation about their service in the administration of President George W. Bush.
• Video: Life on the Bench, National Lawyers Convention (November 14, 2015). Sharing thoughts on role of the judiciary, judicial philosophy, stare decisis and precedent, opinions and dissents, judicial appointment process, the state of the legal profession and more.
• Video/Lecture: The Judge as Umpire delivered by The Honorable Brett M. Kavanaugh (April 1, 2015). Delivering the 2015 Saint John XXIII Lecture at the Columbus School of Law on March 30, Judge Kavanaugh said the comparison of jurist to baseball umpire goes only so far, but there are some similarities. A primary one is avoiding any semblance of partisanship.
• Video: The Courts and the Administrative State Lecture, Case Western Reserve University (October 1, 2013). Discussing the federal administrative agencies within the Executive Branch.
• Video: Opening Remarks, American Law Institute Annual Meeting (May 30, 2013). Sharing thoughts as a relatively new judge in the Circuit Court.
• Video/Transcript: Judicial Decision-Making, C-SPAN (November 11, 2011). A panel of U.S. judges spoke about the judicial decision-making process among appellate courts.
• Dean's Cup Moot Court Competition Final Round 2011, Duke Law (February 21, 2011). Appearing in a panel of judges presiding over a First Amendment case.
• Video: Clinton School Speaker Series, University of Arkansas (October. 24, 2007). Sharing thoughts on the judiciary.
• Video/Transcript: Judicial Nomination Hearing, C-SPAN (May 9, 2006). Judge Kavanaugh testified at a hearing on his nomination as a judge on U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. 
• Video: Judicial Nominations, C-SPAN (April 27, 2004). Judge Kavanaugh testified about his qualifications and career following his nomination as a judge on U.S. Circuit for the District of Columbia. 
• Video: Role and Responsibilities of Executive Branch, C-SPAN (May 17, 2002).  Symposium hosted by the American Judicature Society on the executive role in nominating and selecting federal court judges. 
• Video: Republican Legal Issues, C-SPAN (April 19, 2002).  Symposium hosted by the Republican National Lawyer Association on the federal judicial nomination process. 
• Video:  Independent Counsel Statute Future, C-SPAN (February 19, 1998). Symposium hosted by the ABA Section of Litigation and the Georgetown Law.
• Video: Independent Counsel Structure & Function, C-SPAN (February 19, 1998). Symposium hosted by the Georgetown Law Journal on the structure and function of the Independent Counsel Act.