Kavanaugh takes Supreme Court seat for 1st time

Brett Kavanaugh takes the bench with his new Supreme Court colleagues for the first time.

The new justice dives into his new job, asking a handful of questions in the first arguments of the day following a traditional welcome from Chief Justice John Roberts, who wished Kavanaugh “a long and happy career in our common calling.”

In court, Kavanaugh asks questions of both sides in arguments over increased prison sentences for repeat offenders. He jumps in with his first question after most of the other justices had spoken.

Questions from Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch, US President Donald Trump’s two court picks, suggest they could vote against the Trump administration and side with a criminal defendant from Florida who is fighting an increase in his sentence.

— AP