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Brett Kavanaugh

Associate justice since Oct. 6, 2018

270 Connections

$100K – $265K Investments (2023)

1 Gift

76 Reimbursements

Brett Kavanaugh has disclosed financial or other links to 57 organizations, according to a ProPublica analysis of 18 financial disclosures filed since 2006. This includes disclosures from before Kavanaugh was a Supreme Court justice, including nomination disclosures and disclosures from the federal judiciary.

Top Connections

Connections are organizations with which the justice has disclosed financial or other relationships. Some are direct financial relationships — for example, when an organization has paid or reimbursed justices — and some are nonfinancial, such as board memberships or universities they attended.

Name Category Mentions
Harvard University Colleges and universities 54
Yale University Colleges and universities 20
Blessed Sacrament School Schools 19
George Mason University Colleges and universities 17
Thrift Savings Plan Banks and financial services 12
University of Notre Dame Colleges and universities 11
Bank of America Banks and financial services 9
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Banks and financial services 9
Chevy Chase Section 5 Government 9
The Federalist Society Nonprofits 9

Finances

Noninvestment income (20)

Investments (2)

Spousal income (16)

Gifts (1)

Liabilities (42)

Noninvestment income ($823K)

Noninvestment income includes compensation from jobs the justice has had, such as teaching roles; jobs at law firms before they were judges; pension benefits; and royalties for intellectual property, such as books and copyrights.

Report Year Organization Name Amount Purpose
2023 University of Notre Dame $25,000.00 Teaching
2023 Javelin Group and Regnery Publishing $340,000.00 Royalties

Book royalties

2022 George Mason University $29,894.96 Teaching
2021 George Mason University $25,541.66 Teaching
2020 George Mason University $25,000.08 Teaching
2019 George Mason University $12,500.04 Teaching
2018 Harvard University $27,765.00 Teaching
2017 Harvard University $27,490.00 Teaching
2016 Harvard University $27,220.00 Teaching
2015 Harvard University $27,220.00 Teaching
2014 Harvard University $26,950.00 Teaching
2013 Harvard University $26,950.00 Teaching
2012 Harvard University $26,950.00 Teaching
2011 Harvard University $22,512.75 Teaching
2011 Yale University $4,400.00 Teaching
2010 Harvard University $22,512.75 Teaching
2009 Harvard University $22,508.50 Teaching
2008 Harvard University $22,508.50 Teaching
2007 Georgetown University $12,000.00 Teaching
2006 U.S. Government $68,026.00 Salary

Employment in January-May 2006 before appointment as judge

Investments (2023)

Investments include cash accounts, property, stocks, investment funds, retirement plans and other financial instruments owned by justices, their spouses and dependent children in excess of certain value thresholds or generating more than $200 in income in a year. Justices are not required to disclose information about their personal residences unless they generate rental income.

All Investment Holdings: $100K – $265K

  Cash account (94%)
  Retirement fund (6%)
Name Category Income Amount Income Type Gross Value Amount Gross Value Method
Bank of America accounts
Transaction Type Transaction Date
Cash Account $2,501 – $5,000 Interest $100,001 – $250,000 Cash Market
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund (VIIIX )
Transaction Type Transaction Date
Retirement Fund $0 – $1,000 Int./Div. $0 – $15,000 Cash Market

Spousal income

Spousal income includes earned income from jobs a justice’s spouse has held, as well as honoraria. Justices are required to report a spouse’s income that exceeded $1,000 but are not required to disclose specific amounts.

Report Year Source Description Amount
2023 Chevy Chase Section 5 Salary

Town manager

2022 Chevy Chase Section 5 Salary

Town manager

2021 Chevy Chase Section 5 Salary

Town manager

2020 Chevy Chase Section 5 Salary

Town manager

2019 Chevy Chase Section 5 Salary

Town manager

2018 Chevy Chase Section 5 Salary

Town manager

2017 Chevy Chase Section 5 Salary

Town manager

2016 Chevy Chase Section 5 Salary

Town manager

2016 Gerlach Real Estate Salary
2015 Chevy Chase Section 5 Salary

Town manager

2010 George W. Bush Presidential Center Salary
2009 George W. Bush Presidential Center Salary
2008 George W. Bush Presidential Center Salary
2007 George W. Bush Presidential Center Salary
2006 Greater Washington Community Foundation
2006 George W. Bush Presidential Center

Gifts ($2K)

Gifts include gifts received by justices, their spouses or their dependent children from any source other than a relative. Justices are only required to disclose gifts whose aggregate value from the same source exceeds a certain threshold ($480 in 2023) within the reporting period and gifts that are individually worth more than 40% of that threshold. This only captures gifts that have been disclosed, which ProPublica reporting shows can be incomplete. Show more.

Report Year Source Description Value
2013 University of Notre Dame Contribution to Washington Jesuit Academy by the Law School $2,000.00

Liabilities

Liabilities include debts that exceeded $10,000 at any time during the reporting period for justices, their spouses or their dependent children. Because justices have to report these each year, some debts may show up multiple times in the table. Show more.

Report Year Creditor Description Value
2017 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $0 – $15,000
2016 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2016 Bank of America Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2016 USAA Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2016 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2015 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Credit card $0 – $15,000
2015 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2015 Bank of America Credit card $0 – $15,000
2014 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Credit card $0 – $15,000
2014 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2013 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2013 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2012 Bank of America Credit card $0 – $15,000
2012 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2012 USAA Credit card $0 – $15,000
2012 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2011 Bank of America Credit card $0 – $15,000
2011 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Credit card $0 – $15,000
2011 USAA Credit card $0 – $15,000
2011 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2010 Bank of America Credit card $0 – $15,000
2010 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Credit card $0 – $15,000
2010 USAA Credit card $0 – $15,000
2010 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2009 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Credit card $0 – $15,000
2009 Citibank Credit card $0 – $15,000
2009 Bank of America Credit card $0 – $15,000
2009 USAA Credit card $0 – $15,000
2009 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2008 Bank of America Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2008 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2008 USAA Credit card $0 – $15,000
2008 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2008 Citibank Credit card $0 – $15,000
2007 Bank of America Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2007 First USA Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2007 USAA Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2007 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000
2006 Bank of America Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2006 First USA Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2006 USAA Credit card $15,001 – $50,000
2006 Thrift Savings Plan Loan $15,001 – $50,000

Travel Reimbursements

Reimbursements include any payment or thing of value received to cover travel-related expenses for justices and their families. They can include expenses that the third party paid directly or for which a justice paid upfront and was reimbursed, but justices are not required to report reimbursements’ dollar values. Show more.

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Report Year Date Source Location Purpose Items Paid or Provided
2023 March 5 – 11, 2023 University of Notre Dame London, United Kingdom Teaching

Law school seminar teaching

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2023 Jan. 22 – 23, 2023 University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Speaking

Spoke at Law School Symposium

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2022 Sept. 20 – 23, 2023 University of Notre Dame Rome, Italy Speaking

Speak to and participate in conference with foreign and American judges

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2020 Aug. 8 – 15, 2020 George Mason University Farmington, PA Teaching

Teach two-credit class on the Supreme Court’s 2019 term

 Food, Lodging
2019 Sept. 13 – 15, 2019 American Academy of Achievement New York, NY Speaking

Speak at achievement summit

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2019 July 20 – Aug. 3, 2019 George Mason University Egham, United Kingdom Teaching

Teach two-credit class on creation of the Constitution

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2019 May 6 – 8, 2019 Seventh Circuit Bar Association Milwaukee, WI Speaking

Speak at judicial conference of 7th Circuit

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2018 April 19 – 21, 2018 The Federalist Society New Haven, CT Speaking

Speak to Yale Federalist Society and to Yale Black Law Students Association

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2018 Feb. 22 – 24, 2018 The Federalist Society South Bend, IN Speaking

Speak to Notre Dame Federalist Society

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2018 Jan. 1 – 12, 2018 Harvard University Cambridge, MA Teaching

Teach two-credit class on Supreme Court

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2018 March 27, 2018 The Federalist Society Cambridge, MA Speaking

Participate on a panel and speak to Harvard Black Law Students Association

 Food, Transportation
2017 Oct. 26 – 27, 2017 Harvard University Cambridge, MA Academic - Other

Participate on a panel about judging at law school’s bicentennial celebration

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2017 Sept. 14 – 15, 2017 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Speaking

Speak on panel at conference on national security law issues

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2017 July 5 – 12, 2017 Aspen Institute Aspen, CO Teaching

Co-teach Justice and Society seminar with Robert Post

 Food, Lodging, Transportation
2017 Jan. 1 – April 30, 2017 Harvard University Cambridge, MA Teaching

Teach two-credit class on Supreme Court

 Food, Lodging, Transportation

Background

Positions

Employment

Agreements

Education

Positions

Positions are those where a justice was an officer, director, trustee, partner, proprietor, representative, employee or consultant for any organization other than the U.S. government at the time the disclosure was filed.

Report Years Organization Title
2022 – 2023 University of Notre Dame Adjunct professor
2019 – 2022 Blessed Sacrament School Adviser, CYO sports advisory board
2018 – 2022 George Mason University Visiting professor of law
2017 – 2018 Washington Jesuit Academy Director
2015 – 2018 Classics Basketball Coach
2015 – 2017 Montgomery County Recreation Coach
2014 – 2023 Blessed Sacrament School Coach
2013 – 2018 Harvard University Lecturer on law
2012 Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court President
2011 – 2018 American Law Institute Adviser
2011 Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court President-elect and then president
2011 Yale University Lecturer
2010 American Bar Association Ex officio member, section of administrative law and regulatory practice
2010 Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court Vice president and president-elect
2010 – 2016 Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit Director
2009 – 2012 Harvard University Lecturer
2008 – 2009, 2011 – 2012 American Bar Association Ex officio member
2007 Georgetown University Adjunct professor
2007 – 2008 Harvard University Lecturer in law

Employment

Employment is the justice’s job history, including clerkships, private practice experience, earlier judgeships and other government jobs.

Organization Job Title Dates
Supreme Court of the United States Associate justice Oct. 6, 2018 – Present
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge 2006 – 2018
The White House Assistant to the president and staff secretary 2003 – 2006
The White House Associate counsel, senior associate counsel 2001 – 2003
Kirkland & Ellis LLP Partner 1999 – 2001
Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr Associate counsel 1998
Kirkland & Ellis LLP Partner 1997 – 1998
Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr Associate counsel 1994 – 1997
Supreme Court of the United States Law clerk to Justice Anthony Kennedy 1993 – 1994
Department of Justice Attorney 1992 – 1993
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit Law clerk to Judge Alex Kozinski 1991 – 1992
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit Law clerk to Judge Walter Stapleton 1990 – 1991

Agreements

Agreements include any agreements into which a justice has entered, such as employment contracts, continuing payments from former employers and continuing participation in employee welfare or benefit plans maintained by a former employer.

Year Organization Terms
2023 University of Notre Dame Agreement to teach in 2023.
2022 George Mason University Visiting professor of law, 2022
2022 University of Notre Dame Adjunct professor, agreement to teach in 2023
2019 George Mason University Visiting professor of law, agreement to teach in 2019, 2020 and 2021
2022 George Mason University Visiting professor of law, agreement to teach in 2022
2020 George Mason University Visiting professor of law, agreement to teach in 2019, 2020 and 2021
2019 George Mason University Visiting professor of law, agreement to teach in 2019, 2020 and 2021
2018 Harvard University Lecturer on law, agreement in 2018 to teach in January 2019 (did not teach given January 2019 court schedule).
2019 Blessed Sacrament School Adviser, CYO sports advisory board
2019 George Mason University Visiting professor of law, agreement to teach in 2019, 2020 and 2021
2018 Harvard University Teaching in winter 2019
2017 Harvard University Teaching in winter 2018
2016 Harvard University Teaching in winter 2017
2015 Harvard University Teaching in fall 2015
2014 Harvard University Teaching in 2014 and 2015
2013 Harvard University Teaching in 2014
2012 Harvard University Teaching in 2013
2011 Yale University Teaching in 2011
2011 Harvard University Teaching in 2012
2010 Harvard University Teaching in 2011
2009 Harvard University Teaching in 2010 and 2011
2008 Harvard University Teaching in 2009, 2010 and 2011
2006 Harvard University Teaching in 2008
2007 Georgetown University Potential teaching in 2007 or 2008

Education

Education lists the justice's educational history, including where they obtained their undergraduate and law degrees.

School Degree
Yale University J.D., 1990
Yale University B.A., 1987

About The Data

The bulk of the data we used came from the Free Law Project, which maintains a database of more than 35,000 financial disclosure records for federal judges, justices and magistrates, most of it dating back to 2003. These disclosures, which federal employees are required to file each year under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, are maintained by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The law, however, requires most of them to be destroyed after six years, making many disclosures from earlier years hard to find. Our disclosures cover most of those filed since 2003, as well as some financial information disclosed by some justices during their Senate confirmations in 1990, 1991 and 2000. (Do you have information about a Supreme Court justice’s finances from before 2003? Email us.)

Because much of the data was extracted from PDFs using optical character recognition, we designed our own database and imported and cleaned the Free Law Project’s data to fix scanning and other errors. We corrected spelling errors, edited fields for style and clarity and, where possible, attempted to add contextual information by, for example, categorizing organizations and transactions, standardizing certain fields, updating entity names or filling in missing information.

In some cases, such as when the Free Law Project did not have a specific disclosure or had not extracted data from a report, we extracted or transcribed the data manually.

After cleaning and standardizing the data, we spot-checked it for accuracy, looking primarily for transcription or categorization errors. If you believe you see an error in the database, please contact us at [email protected].

More from Friends of the Court

ProPublica has reported that justices have sometimes failed to disclose speaking engagements and gifts like private jet travel and luxury vacations from wealthy and influential people. Read our series: Friends of the Court.

Do you have any tips on the courts? Contact us securely or reach out to ProPublica reporters Justin Elliott and Josh Kaplan.

by Sergio Hernandez, Alex Mierjeski, Al Shaw and Mollie Simon

Jeff Frankl, Nat Lash and Alec Glassford contributed development and design. Mariam Elba contributed research.

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