Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings may be well behind him, but the Court’s newest member will not take part in any public aspects of his investiture ceremony Thursday over concerns he could be harmed.
Traditionally, new Supreme Court Justices take part in an investiture ceremony, where the eight other Justices welcome their newest member to the bench. Most of the investiture proceedings are private, but once the official rites are completed in the Supreme Court’s chambers, the new justice is walked, by the Chief Justice, down the Court’s 44 marble steps to a gaggle of press and onlookers below.
Chief Justice John Roberts descends stairs of the Supreme Court for photo-op after investiture ceremony for Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch. pic.twitter.com/rP0Ekmx54z
— Stephen Crowley (@Stcrow) June 15, 2017
This time, though, Law & Crime reports, the Court’s newest justice will have to skip the public outing and press conference over lingering security concerns stemming from how activists responded to his swearing in.
“It is customary for a new justice to walk down the 44 marble steps in front of the building, accompanied by the chief justice. The moment provides a chance for news organizations to photograph the justice, since the courtroom event is closed to cameras,” the Seattle Times also reported.- READ MORE