The US supreme court issued a statement on Friday to say that its newest judge, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, will not take the traditional walk down the courthouse steps after his ceremonial installation – because of security concerns. It is customary for a new justice admitted to the highest court in the land then to walk down the 44 marble steps in front of the building, accompanied by the chief justice. Kavanaugh was confirmed on 6 October by a 50-48 Senate vote following the most acrimonious and divisive confirmation process in a generation. The supreme court steps were crowded with protesters for many days last month as the judge’s confirmation remained on a knife edge, exacerbating deep political and cultural divisions, until he survived an 11th-hour investigation by the FBI. The final Senate vote to confirm him was disrupted by hecklers in the public gallery.

Source: The Guardian November 02, 2018 19:37 UTC