Kavanaugh begins role as a justice

WASHINGTON: A Supreme Court with a new conservative majority takes the bench as Brett Kavanaugh, narrowly confirmed after a bitter Senate battle, joined his new colleagues to hear his first arguments as a justice.

Justice Kavanaugh was set to emerge yesterday morning from behind the courtroom’s red velvet curtains and take his seat alongside his eight colleagues. It was set to be a moment that conservatives have dreamed of for decades, with five solidly conservative justices on the bench.

With justices seated by seniority, President Donald Trump’s two appointees will flank the Supreme Court bench, Justice Neil Gorsuch at one end and Justice Kavanaugh at the other. Court watchers will be looking to see whether the new justice asks questions at arguments and, if so, what he asks. There will also be those looking for any lingering signs of Justice Kavanaugh’s heated, partisan confirmation fight. But the justices, who often highlight their efforts to work together as a collegial body, are likely to focus on the cases before them.

Republicans had hoped to confirm Justice Kavanaugh in time for him to join the court on Oct 1, the start of the new term. Instead, the former DC Circuit judge missed the first week of arguments as the Senate considered an allegation that he had sexually assaulted a woman in high school, an allegation he adamantly denied.

On Monday evening he was the guest of honour at a ceremonial swearing-in at the White House. While Mr Trump apologised on behalf of the nation for “the terrible pain and suffering’’ Justice Kavanaugh and his family had suffered and declared him “proven innocent’’, the new justice assured Americans that he would be fair and was taking the job with “no bitterness’’.

Justice Kavanaugh has also begun moving in to his new office at the Supreme Court, taking over space previously used by Justice Samuel Alito, who moved into offices vacated by Kennedy. He has also hired four clerks, all women, the first time that has happened.