WASHINGTON — The Tuesday confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was raucous at points.
Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee interrupted the hearing multiple times to question proceedings moving forward, noting the late release of documents detailing Kavanaugh’s time serving with the administration of President George W. Bush.
Protesters frequently disrupted the hearing to raise concerns about Kavanaugh’s possible impact on abortion rights.
A majority of Republicans support Kavanaugh to replace retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, while most Democrats oppose such action.
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is one of the Republicans in favor of Kavanaugh.
“He is eminently well-qualified. He is smart, he is judicious, he is a humble person,” she said on MetroNews “Talkline.”
“He’s the kind of person I want on my Supreme Court.”
Capito, whose interview happened at the hearing’s start, said the actions of her Democratic colleagues were unacceptable.
“It’s just so orchestrated and a lack of civility. There are ways to move forward in committees to make your points,” she said. “Interrupting is not, I don’t think, the best way to do it.”
Democrats and others who oppose to Kavanaugh are concerned about what a Justice Kavanaugh could mean for possible legal proceedings against President Donald Trump and the future of abortion rights, as affirmed in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
Kavanaugh previously wrote sitting presidents should not be indicted, but has not stated a position regarding the Supreme Court’s role.
As for abortion rights, Capito said it was a topic in her one-on-one discussion with Kavanaugh on July 12.
“The precedent has a heavyweight in making a decision,” she said.
The hearings are scheduled to continue Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.