Associate JusticeSince 2018
Brett Michael Kavanaugh
The median vote on today’s Court — a precedent-minded conservative who narrows sweeping majorities with concurrences and lands in the majority more often than any colleague.
Nominated TrumpConfirmed 50–48 · Oct 6, 2018Approach Originalism · Precedent-minded
95%
In the majority
of 40 decided cases, this term
1
Majority opinions
authored this term
2
Dissents
this term
96%
In the majority
across 200 decisions, OT2021–OT2025
’18
On the bench since
8 years
This term · voting record
How Kavanaugh has voted.
CaseAligned withRoleSide
Trump v. Slaughter
Executive power
6–3 majority
Authored
MAJORITY
Watson v. RNC
Elections
4 dissenters
Dissent
DISSENT
Louisiana v. Callais
Elections
6–3 majority
Joined
MAJORITY
Learning Resources v. Trump
Executive power
7–2 majority
Joined
MAJORITY
United States v. Hemani
2nd Amendment
6–3 majority
Joined
MAJORITY
Trump v. Barbara
Executive power
7–2 strike (est.)
Predicted
MAJORITY
Trump v. Cook
Executive power
5–4 Cook stays (est.)
Predicted
DISSENT
West Virginia v. B.P.J.
Civil rights
6–3 uphold (est.)
Predicted
MAJORITY
NRSC v. FEC
1st Amendment
6–3 strike (est.)
Predicted
MAJORITY
Mullin v. Al Otro Lado
Immigration
6–3 for gov’t (est.)
Predicted
MAJORITY
PENDING CASES SHOW PREDICTED VOTES (EST. FROM ARGUMENT + IDEAL POINT) · DECIDED CASES SHOW THE RECORDED VOTE.
Majority opinions · OT2021–OT2025
The opinions Kavanaugh wrote for the Court.
9–0
OT2025
Ellingburg v. United States
Decided Jan 20, 2026
6–3
OT2024
McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates, Inc. v. McKesson Corporation
Decided Jun 20, 2025
7–2
OT2024
Diamond Alternative Energy LLC v. Environmental Protection Agency
Decided Jun 20, 2025
5–4
OT2024
Williams v. Reed
Decided Feb 21, 2025
9–0
OT2024
E.M.D. Sales, Inc. v. Carrera
Decided Jan 15, 2025
6–3
OT2023
Snyder v. United States
Decided Jun 26, 2024
7–2
OT2023
Moore v. United States
Decided Jun 20, 2024
9–0
OT2023
Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine
Decided Jun 13, 2024
SHOWING THE 8 MOST RECENT OF 18 MAJORITY OPINIONS · SOURCE: OYEZ
Public favorability
A partisan split — and lots of “don’t know.”
Republicans64 / 10
Independents17 / 41
Democrats11 / 61
33% OF ALL ADULTS HAVE NO OPINION · YOUGOV / THE ECONOMIST, MAY 2026 →
All readings
FAV / UNFAV / NET · Marquette polls all adults with a “haven’t heard enough” option; YouGov polls adult citizens — levels aren’t comparable across houses, the net trend is.
Favorability over time
Drifting with the Court’s numbers.
Net favorability over time
Sep 2019May 2026
Born
Feb 12, 1965 · Washington, D.C.
Education
Yale Law
Seat
Associate Justice (succeeded Anthony Kennedy)
Sworn in
Oct 6, 2018
Clerked for
Justice Anthony Kennedy
Prior role
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (2006–2018)
Related coverage
SCOTUSblog · 2h
The four opinions still outstanding as the term hits its final day.
NYT · 5h
Inside the birthright-citizenship argument: where each justice tipped their hand.
Reuters · 1d
Slaughter ruling hands the President at-will control of independent agencies.
AP · 1d
After Callais, three Southern states move to redraw congressional maps.
Associate Justice · since 2018
Brett Michael Kavanaugh
The median vote on today’s Court — a precedent-minded conservative who narrows sweeping majorities with concurrences and lands in the majority more often than any colleague.
Conservativeideal pt +1.0
Net favorability
−8
30% fav · 38% unfav
95%
In majority
1
Maj. opinions
2
Dissents
This term · voting record
Trump v. Slaughter
AUTHORED · 6–3 majority
Watson v. RNC
DISSENT · 4 dissenters
Louisiana v. Callais
JOINED · 6–3 majority
Learning Resources v. Trump
JOINED · 7–2 majority
United States v. Hemani
JOINED · 6–3 majority
Trump v. Barbara
PREDICTED · 7–2 strike (est.)
Trump v. Cook
PREDICTED · 5–4 Cook stays (est.)
West Virginia v. B.P.J.
PREDICTED · 6–3 uphold (est.)
NRSC v. FEC
PREDICTED · 6–3 strike (est.)
Mullin v. Al Otro Lado
PREDICTED · 6–3 for gov’t (est.)
Votes with
Roberts
96%
Barrett
90%
Alito
85%
Gorsuch
79%
Thomas
79%
Kagan
76%
Jackson
74%
Sotomayor
72%
Majority opinions · OT2021–OT2025
9–0Ellingburg v. United StatesOT2025
6–3McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates, Inc. v. McKesson CorporationOT2024
7–2Diamond Alternative Energy LLC v. Environmental Protection AgencyOT2024
5–4Williams v. ReedOT2024
9–0E.M.D. Sales, Inc. v. CarreraOT2024
6–3Snyder v. United StatesOT2023
Favorability, by party
Republicans64 / 10
Independents17 / 41
Democrats11 / 61
33% OF ALL ADULTS HAVE NO OPINION · YOUGOV / THE ECONOMIST, MAY 2026
What the money says
SNAPSHOT JUL 1, 2026 · ¢ = PRICE OF YES
Related coverage
SCOTUSblog · 2h
The four opinions still outstanding as the term hits its final day.
NYT · 5h
Inside the birthright-citizenship argument: where each justice tipped their hand.
Reuters · 1d
Slaughter ruling hands the President at-will control of independent agencies.
AP · 1d
After Callais, three Southern states move to redraw congressional maps.