美国最高法院的最新成员卡瓦诺在参议院备受伤害的确认过程让美国社会痛苦分裂,卡瓦诺誓言要以尊重和开放的心态听取每一个案件。
卡瓦诺在周二正式上任大法官前在白宫东厅参加了就职仪式,他说:“每个美国人都可以放心,我将成为一个独立和公正的大法官。”
最高法院的其他八名大法官,以及在卡瓦诺确认过程至关重要的一些共和党参议员和特朗普总统周一见证了退休大法官安东尼-肯尼迪主持的卡瓦诺的司法宣誓。
卡瓦诺说,“参议院的确认过程充满了争议和激动的情绪,现在这些都结束了。”
他补充说,最高法院“不是一个党派或政治机构”,并承诺他将在“一个9人团队永远是一名团队成员”。
卡瓦诺还宣布,他的所有四名法律助理都将是女性,“这是最高法院有史以来的第一次”。
稍早时,特朗普总统暗示了民主党人对他提名这位联邦巡回法院法官做出激烈反对。卡瓦诺被控在青少年时性行为不端。
现在在加利福尼亚州一所大学担任教授的克里斯蒂娜·布拉西·福特对卡瓦诺的指控几乎断送卡瓦诺的提名确认。卡瓦诺否认了这一指控。
特朗普说:“我代表我们的国家,向布雷特和卡瓦诺一家所遭受的可怕痛苦和遭遇道歉。”他说, “你,先生,在历史性的审查下,被证明是无辜的。”
卡瓦诺在星期六参议院以50-48的投票结果确认他的提名之后正式宣誓就任,成为美国最高法院的终身大法官。
The newest member of the United States Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, after a bruising confirmation process in the Senate that bitterly divided the nation, is vowing to hear every case with respect and an open mind.
“Every American can be assured that I will be an independent and impartial justice,” Kavanaugh said in the White House East Room after a ceremonial swearing-in ahead of his first day on the bench Tuesday.
The other eight members of the highest court, a number of Republican senators crucial to the confirmation process and President Donald Trump watched Monday as retired Justice Anthony Kennedy administered the judicial oath to Kavanaugh.
“The Senate confirmation process was contentious and emotional. That is now over,” declared Kavanaugh.
Kavanaugh added that the Supreme Court “is not a partisan or political institution,” promising to “always be a team player on a team of nine.”
Kavanaugh also announced that all four of his law clerks will be women — “a first in the history of the Supreme Court.”
Minutes earlier, Trump alluded to the fierce Democratic Party opposition to the federal circuit court judge he had nominated to the bench who was accused of sexual misconduct in his youth.
The allegation by Christine Blasey Ford, now a university professor in California, nearly derailed Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Kavanaugh denied the accusation.
“On behalf of our nation, I want to apologize to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family for the terrible pain and suffering you have been forced to endure,” Trump said. “You, sir, under historic scrutiny, were proven innocent.”
Kavanaugh was officially sworn in Saturday, just after the Senate narrowly confirmed him by a vote of 50-48, to the lifetime seat on the country’s highest court.