Politics

WATCH LIVE: Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings Begin

KERA

Published September 4, 2018 at 7:55 AM CDT

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President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, a federal appeals court judge, speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 4, 2018.

Andrew Harnik / AP

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President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, departs after meeting with Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which will oversee his confirmation, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Aug. 23, 2018.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh started today.

The 53-year-old federal judge is President Donald Trump’s pick to fill the spot left vacant by Justice Anthony Kennedy who retired in July.

Democrats and Republicans are sharply divided over his nomination and the hearings will be a major political focal point in the months leading up to the midterm elections.

Read NPR coverage from Tuesday's hearing.

Watch the hearing, courtesy of PBS NewsHour

To watch Day 2 of the Kavanaugh hearings, go here.