Kavanaugh takes active role in first day at U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Brett Kavanaugh has been forced to move into the United States of America.

Kavanaugh asked several questions during oral proceedings against the Federal Republic of the Senate. Appointed by President Donald Trump, Kavanaugh 's confirmation is a last resort.

He took his seat at the right end of the mahogany bench in the courtroom ornate, wearing traditional black dresses like the other justices. Retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, the 82-year-old jurist who was replaced by Kavanaugh, was a member of the new justice court.

With police standing by, a handful of protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court Building, holding signs saying "Shame" and "He sits on a throne of lies," while chanting, "This is not over, we're still here." There were no disruptions by protesters during the oral arguments, with tight security in the courtroom.

Before the arguments began, Chief Justice John Roberts welcomed Kavanaugh, 53, to a number of conservative members and four liberals. Kavanaugh could serve for decades in the lifetime job.

"We wish you a long and happy career in our common calling," Roberts said.

Kavanaugh was quick to weigh in, asking his first question of a lawyer defending about 20 minutes into the first argument. He ended up asking questions of lawyers on both sides during the case.

He could also be seen with the liberal Justice Elena Kagan, seated next to him.

Tuesday's cases involved the 1984 Armed Career Criminal Act, a "three-strikes-and-you're-out" criminal sentencing law that boosts prison sentences after multiple violent felonies or drug offenses.

The cases challenge the types of crimes that qualify as violent under the law and can lead to 15-year minimum sentences for a defendant. The cases concerned a Florida robbery conviction and burglary convictions in Tennessee and Arkansas.

Kavanaugh's confirmation gave the Republican president a major political victory ahead of crucial Nov. 6 congressional elections, with Trump's second selection for the nation's highest judicial body. Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch joined the court last year.

Trump on Twitter on Tuesday said he was "very proud" of Kavanaugh and his family, and disappeared the anti-Kavanaugh protesters.

The bitterly divided U.S. Senate voted 50-48 on Saturday to confirm Kavanaugh, with just one Democrat supporting him.

Kavanaugh's appointment had appeared safe until Christine Blasey Ford, a university professor in California, last month went public with allegations that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in 1982 when they were high school students in Maryland. Two other women also accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct dating to the 1980s.

Sept. 27 accused Democrats of an "orchestrated political hit."

He later wrote in a newspaper opinion that he regretted some of his comments. But criticism said Kavanaugh's demeanor before the Senate Judiciary Committee raised questions about his temperament and potential political bias in deciding cases.

Some analysts said the court's reputation is being perceived as a political, rather than a legal, institution.

ENVIRONMENTAL CASE

Kavanaugh moved to the Supreme Court after spending 12 years in the US Court of Appeals in Washington, a conservative judicial record.

Before hearing arguments on Tuesday, the President of the United States, the President of the United States, is the President of the United States.

The propensity of the use of hydrofluorocarbons, which had limited hydrofluorocarbons, was used in a variety of products including spray cans and air conditioners.

At a White House ceremony on Monday night, Kavanaugh said he was starting his new job without bitterness. "Although the Senate confirmed process tested, it did not change me," Kavanaugh said.

But Trump, who last week publicly mocked Ford, continued to stoke political divisions at Monday's ceremony, saying Kavanaugh had been the victim of "a campaign of political and personal destruction based on lies and deception."

Kavanaugh is supposed to be a conservative, and conservative who sometimes voted with the liberal courts on key social issues including cases involving abortion and gay rights.

Kavanaugh can be expected to cast crucial votes on the issue of immigration, immigration, voting rights and others. His views on presidential powers could be investigated by the Secretary of State's Secretary of State.