Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley announced to sources the Senate could confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in time for the new court term that begins Oct. 1.
The Iowa Republican said late Tuesday that the committee could vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination on Sept. 13. Democrats could force a week’s delay, which would result in a final committee vote Sept. 20. A final Senate vote to confirm Kavanaugh could happen later the following week.
For Supreme Court nominations, the Judiciary Committee has traditionally voted to recommend a nominee favorably or unfavorably, giving the full Senate the final say.
Kavanaugh’s first day of confirmation hearings began Tuesday morning and adjourned just before 5 p.m.
The judge is scheduled to begin answering questions from lawmakers Wednesday.
President Donald Trump is accusing Senate critics of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of “looking to inflict pain and embarrassment.”
Democratic senators tried unsuccessfully to delay Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing. They used their remarks to question the conservative judge’s past decisions and legal reasoning. Protesters regularly interrupted the daylong proceedings.
President Donald Trump’s second nominee to the high court was speaking Tuesday on the first day of his Senate confirmation hearings. Kavanaugh says the “Supreme Court is the last line of defense for the separation of powers, and for the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.”
Kavanaugh promises that if confirmed he will “keep an open mind in every case.”
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin questioning Kavanaugh on Wednesday.
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is praising the man he would replace, Justice Anthony Kennedy.
President Donald Trump’s second nominee to the high court was speaking Tuesday during the first day of his confirmation hearing.
Kavanaugh served as a law clerk to Kennedy from 1993 to 1994 and called him a “mentor, a friend, and a hero.” He says Kennedy “fiercely defended the independence of the Judiciary” and “was a champion of liberty.”
Kennedy was nominated by president Ronald Reagan and took his seat in 1988. He announced his retirement in June.
Kennedy has in recent years often cast the deciding vote in cases where the Supreme Court divided 5-4. Democrats are concerned that if Kavanaugh is confirmed, the Supreme Court will move to the right.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is praising Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying he “listens, especially to those with whom he disagrees.”
Rice made the statement Tuesday in introducing Kavanaugh during the first day of his Senate confirmation hearings. Both Rice and Kavanaugh worked for President George W. Bush.
Rice describes Kavanaugh as “really, really smart” and “hardworking.” She says he “makes those around him better.”
Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and liberal lawyer Lisa Blatt are also making introductory remarks before Kavanaugh gives an opening statement. Lawmakers will begin questioning Kavanaugh Wednesday.
Rice served as secretary of state from 2005 to 2009.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says Democrats are “running out of options” to block Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
Speaking from the Senate floor, the Kentucky Republican decried what he called the “the hyperventilation and orchestrated antics” of Democrats.
McConnell says Democrats “can’t find any substantive reasons” why Kavanaugh shouldn’t be confirmed and are trying to distract from his “distinguished record.”
Democrats earlier Tuesday sought to delay the confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace retired Justice Anthony Kennedy. Democrats said the hearings should not proceed until they have time to review the 42,000 pages from Kavanaugh’s record that were released Monday evening.
Republicans refused and said the hearings will go forward as planned. They hope to confirm Kavanaugh by Oct.
A man whose daughter died in the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., tried to shake the hand of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh during a break in Tuesday’s confirmation hearing.
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jamie died in the February 2018 attack, approached Kavanaugh after he rose from the witness table for a lunch break. He put out his hand to Kavan.
"We go to these hearings under protest," Sen. Dianne Feinstein said before Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing began this morning. Democratic senators have already raised objections at the start of the hearing: https://t.co/MF1QpJzFS7 pic.twitter.com/W7PIWczrCe
— ABC News (@ABC) September 4, 2018
