Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh Tests Positive for COVID-19

Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh Tests Positive for COVID-19
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his confirmation hearing to serve as associate justice on the Supreme Court at the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 4, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)
Zachary Stieber
10/1/2021
Updated:
10/2/2021

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

Kavanaugh, 56, had a routine test done ahead of Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s Oct. 1 investiture, Supreme Court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe said in a statement.

Kavanaugh’s wife and daughters tested negative.

All are fully vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19.

Kavanaugh is not showing any symptoms but as a precaution, he and his wife will not attend Barrett’s investiture, according to McCabe.

Both Barrett and Kavanaugh were appointed by President Donald Trump.

Barrett was sworn in on Oct. 27, 2020, but was scheduled to have a formal investiture ceremony on Oct. 1.

A COVID-19 outbreak occurred in the fall of 2020 when Trump announced Barrett as his nominee. Over 24 people who attended the announcement tested positive, though no serious cases were reported.

Kavanaugh’s positive test came several days after all of the justices were tested on Monday morning, a week before they were slated to start a new term. All of the justices tested negative, including Kavanaugh.

A Supreme Court spokeswoman said in an email that Kavanaugh will participate in next week’s oral arguments from his home.

All other justices tested negative, she said.

Kavanaugh was spotted at the U.S. Capitol by reporters on Thursday wearing a mask. The Office of the Attending Physician, which attends to members of Congress, also attends to Supreme Court justices.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with details on next week’s oral arguments.