Brett Kavanaugh has been sworn in as a US Supreme Court justice

Finally Brett Kavanaugh has been sworn in as a Supreme Court justice after he was narrowly confirmed by the United States Senate.

The Senate vote delivered an election-season triumph to President Donald Trump that could swing the court rightward for a generation after a battle that rubbed raw the country’s cultural, gender and political divides.  

Justice Kavanaugh was quickly sworn in at the court building, across the street from the Capitol, even as protesters chanted outside. The near party-line Senate vote was 50-48 as Vice President Mike Pence presided over the roll call with his potential tie-breaking vote becoming unnecessary.

Kavanaugh replaces the retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was a swing vote on issues such as abortion, campaign finance and same-sex marriage.