Brett Kavanaugh confirmed to Supreme Court amid widespread outcry over sexual assault allegations – as it happened

Donald Trump's second nominee to the court is confirmed 50-48

Sen. Collins: “I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh”

Brett Kavanaugh has been confirmed as the next US Supreme Court justice by the Senate after a highly charged confirmation process in which he was accused of sexual assault.

At a passionate hearing last week, Mr Kavanaugh denied allegations levelled against him by psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford that he assaulted her while they were both at high school in 1982.

Several key wavering senators confirmed on Friday they would approve Mr Kavanaugh’s nomination to the court after a mammoth series of hearings lasting more than 30 hours.

Ultimately, Mr Kavanaugh was confirmed 50-48.

Republican Senator Steve Daines was not present since his daughter is getting married in Montana today. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski was the lone party defector, but she declined to formally cast her "no" vote out of respect for the party and because it would not have made a difference in the final decision to place Mr Kavanaugh on the court.

The judge scraped through a procedural ballot 51 to 49 after key swing voters such as Republican senator Susan Collins and Democrat Joe Manchin announced they would support his appointment.

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The vote has set the stage for lawmakers to sign off on his ascension to a seat on the nation’s highest court over the weekend.

However, Mr Kavanaugh’s appointment has proved contentious after several women came forward during the course of the hearings to accuse him of sexual misconduct.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee received testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, one of Mr Kavanaugh’s accusers as part of the evidence sessions.

The hearing saw Ms Ford give a tearful account of an incident at a house party in 1982, during which she alleges she was assaulted by Mr Kavanaugh while one of his friends watched on.

The judge, who denies all the accusations made against him, gave a combative and at times aggressive defence of himself to the committee.

However, he repeatedly dodged the question of whether he would accept an FBI investigation into the allegations that could potentially clear his name.

Protests were staged on Capitol Hill throughout the day, with some women openly weeping over the prospect of Mr Kavanaugh being appointed to the court.

Friday’s senate vote appeared to please Donald Trump, who nominated the judge to take the empty seat left by the retirement of judge Anthony Kennedy.

“Very proud of the US Senate for voting “YES” to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh!” the president tweeted.

Mr Kavanaugh’s appointment to the seat previously held by the moderate Justice Kennedy means the Supreme Court is likely to drift to the right for decades.

Conservative judges would outnumber their liberal colleagues five to four on the court once his nomination is approved as expected.

Key Points

Controversial nominee set for appointment to Supreme Court

[6 October 2018 20:46 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

The roll call has begun.

[6 October 2018 20:47 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

Votes are rolling in along party lines and as expected.

[6 October 2018 20:51 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

Protesters continue to shout and scream "Shame! Shame! Shame!" from the gallery and are escorted out by police.

[6 October 2018 20:55 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

The Clerk is now reading each of the 98 Senator's votes aloud. Mr Daines is at his daughter's wedding today and would have voted "yes" and Republican Lisa Murkowski abstained. She had planned to vote "no," but out of party respect and since her vote would not have swayed the decision she did not cast her vote officially.

[6 October 2018 21:00 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

And here we are: Brett Kavanaugh becomes the 114th person to serve on the US Supreme Court. 

Read more here: 

[6 October 2018 21:17 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

You can watch the historic vote that has set the US on edge the last few weeks here: 

[6 October 2018 21:21 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

  ↵Mr Trump responded via Twitter to his second nominee being named to the country's highest court. 

[6 October 2018 21:24 · Shehab.Khan]

Black Lives Matter have taken to Twitter to respond to the news of Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation. 

[6 October 2018 21:29 · Shehab.Khan]

The Senator from Rhode Island, Sheldon Whitehouse, says he has “deep concerns” about Mr Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

[6 October 2018 21:35 · Shehab.Khan]

Jeff Duncan, a US representative, says he will “never forget the disgraceful smear campaign” that “was waged against” Judge Kavanaugh