Brett Kavanaugh Sworn in as US Supreme Court Justice Amid Protests

Washington: The US Senate has confirmed Brett Kavanaugh as the 114th Supreme Court Justice by one of the narrowest margins in history amid mass protests, ending a vitriolic battle that began as a debate over judicial ideology and concluded with a national reckoning over sexual misconduct.

As a chorus of women in the Senate’s public galleries repeatedly interrupted the proceedings on Saturday night with cries of “Shame!”, somber-looking senators voted 50 to 48 - almost entirely along party lines - to elevate Judge Kavanaugh, reports The New York Times.

The 53-year-old Kavanaugh was promptly sworn in by both Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the retired Justice Anthony M. Kennedy - the court’s longtime swing vote, whom he will replace - in a private ceremony.

“He’s going to go down as a totally brilliant Supreme Court Justice for many years,” an elated President Donald Trump told reporters, whom he had invited to join him in watching the vote on television aboard Air Force One.

Trump also derided the sizable protests against Judge Kavanaugh on the steps of the Supreme Court and the Capitol as “phony stuff”, and said it was a misnomer to imply that women were upset at his confirmation.”Women, I feel, were in many ways stronger than the men in this fight,” the President said. “Women were outraged at what happened to Brett Kavanaugh. Outraged.”

The brutal confirmation fight is likely to have far-reaching implications in next month’s midterm elections. Republicans are confronting an electrified Democratic base led by women infuriated by the treatment of professor Christine Blasey Ford, who detailed in emotional testimony her allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when both were teenagers in the 1980s. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations. (IANS)