NPR

Kavanaugh Debuts On Supreme Court, Pledging To Be A 'Team Player'

A divided Senate voted 50 to 48 to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the high court. The bitter campaign could leave a mark on his reputation and on public confidence in the institution, legal experts say.
Newly sworn-in Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh speaks as his wife, daughters and President Trump listen on Monday. "The Supreme Court is an institution of law. It is not a partisan or political institution," Kavanaugh said.

Updated at 9:20 a.m. ET

The Supreme Court welcomes its newest justice Tuesday as Brett Kavanaugh takes the bench for his first arguments since a contentious Senate voted narrowly to confirm him, cementing a decades-long campaign by conservatives to reshape the nation's highest court.

On Monday evening, Kavanaugh, 53, joined family members, friends and President Trump at the White House for a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony, at which the new justice tried to ease the partisan wounds from his confirmation

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Baltimore's Key Bridge Was Built In The '70s, But Has A Deep And Patriotic History
The bridge was built mere yards from where Francis Scott Key watched the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814, inspiring him to write the song that would become the U.S. national anthem.
NPR1 min read
6 Presumed Dead In Baltimore Bridge Collapse; Former RNC Chair Dropped From NBC
Recovery efforts are underway for six people presumed dead in the Baltimore bridge collapse. NBC has dropped a former RNC chair as a contributor after backlash from the public and its network stars.
NPR12 min read
Composer Anna Clyne, A Radical Melodist With A Painter's Eye
One of the most performed living composers unpacks the power of melody in her music, her unconventional path to success and how visual art guides her process.

Related Books & Audiobooks