US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh gets rowdy introduction

Confirmation hearings for US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh began with protesters and Democratic grandstanding.

The confirmation hearing of Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been marred by drama and chaos as Republicans and Democrats sparred bitterly while protesters were dragged away.

In a sharply partisan and rancorous hearing, Democrats tried to adjourn proceedings, claiming that they were being denied relevant documents relating to Mr Kavanaugh’s time as White House counsel for president George W. Bush.

Mr Kavanaugh sat silently in front of his wife and daughters watching the heated exchanges between Senators which were punctuated regularly with outbursts from protesters inside the room.

More than 22 protesters, may of them pro-choice activists dressed as characters from The Handmade’s Tale, were arrested during the hearing.

Democrats claimed that they were unable to properly assess Mr Kavanaugh’s legal history because of decision to withhold documents relating to his time as White House counsel.

The Justice Department has withheld 100,000 pages from Congress, claiming they are covered by presidential privilege.

Protesters dressed in The Handmaid's Tale costume protest outside the hearing room where Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh is testifying on Capitol Hill.

But Democrats were also unhappy that 42,000 pages of documents relating to Mr Kavanaugh’s time in the White House were suddenly released only hours before today’s hearing giving them no time to read and assess them.

“What are we trying to hide? Why are we rushing?” Democrat Senator Patrick Leahy asked. “It’s not only shameful, it’s a sham. This is the most incomplete, most partisan, least transparent vetting for any Supreme Court nominee I have ever seen.”

When the fighting died down, Senators gave opening statements about Mr Kavanaugh, offering sharply different and politically partisan assessments of him.

“Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified nominees — if not the most qualified nominee — I have seen,” the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley said. “(His) extensive record demonstrates a deep commitment to the rule of law.”

A protester in Washington. Picture: AFP

But the ranking Democrat on the committee Senator Dianne Feinstein suggested that Mr Kavanaugh’s interpretation of the law was outside that of American mainstream opinion.

On abortion she said the key question was not whether Mr Kavanaugh believes the Roe v Wade decision was “settled law’’ — as he has described it — but rather “whether you believe it is the correct law.”

Democrats are expected to question Mr Kavanaugh aggressively over the four days of hearings on issues such as abortion, gun rights, immigration and anti-discrimination and labour laws.

In prepared comments, Mr Kavanaugh vowed not to allow personal views to decide his position on cases and said he would seek to be team player if confirmed to the Supreme Court.

In prepared opening remarks to his hearing, Mr Kavanaugh said “A good judge must be an umpire — a neutral and impartial arbiter who favours no litigant or policy. I am not a pro-plaintiff or pro-defendant judge. I am not a pro-prosecution or pro-defence judge.

“I would always strive to be a team player on the Team of Nine,” he said.

Mr Kavanaugh, a staunchly conservative judge would be replacing the retiring Anthony Kennedy who has proved to be a swing voter on conservative issues. The confirmation of Mr Kavanaugh to the court would enshrine a 5-4 conservative majority in the court for more than two decades because appointments are for life.

In his prepared comments Mr Kavanaugh paid tribute to Justice Kennedy, describing him as “a mentor, a friend, and a hero.

“As a member of the Court, he was a model of civility and collegiality. He fiercely defended the independence of the Judiciary. And he was a champion of liberty,” Mr Kavanaugh said.

The Democrats do not have the numbers to block the nomination but are hoping that some moderate Republicans may decide to vote against Mr Kavanaugh.

(Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia)