What to Expect From Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation Hearings
Confirmation hearings have officially begun for Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Ahead of this week's events, here's what you need to know:
What's happening?
Confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh begin this Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. This is President Trump's second nominee for Supreme Court, the first being Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was confirmed in April 2017.
Judge Kavanaugh is a 53-year-old conservative who served on the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. for 12 years. He also worked for Justice Anthony Kennedy, the very person he would be replacing on the Supreme Court.
On Tuesday, both Kavanaugh and committee members will give opening statements. Starting on Wednesday, Kavanaugh will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee and questioning will begin; the committee's senators will each have 30 minutes for questions. On Thursday, they will each have 20 minutes, according to The Hill.
Many questions will most likely surround Kavanaugh's stance on abortion rights, gun control, healthcare, and executive power.
On Friday, Senators will hear from outside witnesses (28 are scheduled to testify) who can weigh in on Kavanaugh. After the hearing, the Judiciary Committee votes on Kavanaugh's nomination, and then it goes before the full Senate. To be confirmed, Kavanaugh needs a majority of 51 votes.
Voting could happen in late September, meaning Kavanaugh could start on the Supreme Court when it begins its new term in October.
What can we expect from the vote?
While many Democratic and Republican Senators have said they'll vote the party line (Republicans: For, Democrats: Against), there are some potential swaps. Some Democratic Senators are up for re-election in areas where Trump won in 2016, and they could vote for Kavanaugh to help their chances, especially if it seems he'll already have the majority. Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska could vote against Kavanaugh, due to their support of abortion rights, though they also might try to please voters back home.
What's at stake?
Well, a lot. Kavanaugh would severely impact the court, making it more conservative and taking away the swing vote previously represented by Justice Kennedy. Kavanaugh could help roll back abortion rights, make it easier for people to own guns, and he has said that presidents shouldn't be investigated while in office, giving a glimpse at how he might feel about a possible Trump indictment. The nomination has led to significant backlash; in late August, people gathered across the United States to protest Kavanaugh's nomination.
As the Daily Intelligencer reports: "A Supreme Court that makes it harder to vote, get an abortion, sue a major corporation, or seek redress to discrimination - or that gives Trump a major assist if the question of whether sitting presidents can be investigated or indicted reaches the Supreme Court - could ignite a liberal backlash in time for the 2020 elections. But by then, how much damage will be irreversible?"
Can I watch?
Yes! You can watch a livestream on CNN or CBS.
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