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
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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.
Protesters are reportedly gathering outside of the US Supreme Court after the US Senate confirmed Judge Kavanaugh.
US Senator Mitch McConnell said Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation was a “good day for America and an important day for the Senate”.
"We stood up for the presumption of innocence. We refused to be intimidated by the mob of people that were coming after Republican members at their homes, in the halls."
Judge Kavanaugh will be sworn in today and will be on the bench from 9 October.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell adds: "It certainly had a good impact for us. Our base is fired up. We finally discovered the one thing that would fire up the Republican base. We didn't think of it, the other side did it."
Speaking on Air Force One Donald Trump says he is "100 per cent" certain that Christine Blasey Ford named the wrong person when she accused Judge Kavanaugh in her testimony.
Mr Trump adds that "women were outraged at what happened to Brett Kavanaugh, outraged".
“This is one of the reasons I chose him is because there is no one with a squeaky clean past like Brett Kavanaugh,” Mr Trump adds.
“He is an outstanding person and I am very honoured to have chosen.
We were very honoured that he was able to withstand this horrible, horrible attack by the Democrats."
Senator Dianne Feinstein has said that Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation is "putting women’s reproductive rights, civil rights, environmental protections, worker’s rights, the ability to implement gun safety rules and the ability to hold presidents accountable at risk for a generation."
Members of the Me Too movement voiced outrage after Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed for the US's top court amid an allegation of sexual assault and fears over abortion rights.
Mira Sorvino, one of the actresses to accuse disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment - which he denies, expressed her fears Mr Kavanaugh will help protect the president from any potential legal action.
While fellow actress Alyssa Milano, who helped spark the Me Too movement by encouraging victims to tweet about their harassment or abuse, said she was "terrified and outraged".
She encouraged her fans to "take back our power" by voting in the November mid-term elections, adding: "It is the only way out of this mess."
Reese Witherspoon said she "can't wait for November" - adding the blue wave symbol for a vast victory for the Democrats.
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres praised Dr Ford and vowed to continue her "movement".
A large crowd of protesters are on the front steps of the US Supreme Court, chanting, "Kavanaugh has got to go."
Brett Kavanaugh is currently inside, and is being sworn in.
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