Donald Trump apologizes

Judge Kavanaugh: The President of the United States Donald Trump  sworn in the 53-year-old magistrate, confirmed this weekend by the Senate after an intense political struggle of several weeks.

"On behalf of our nation, I wish to apologize to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family for the terrible pain and suffering that you have been forced to endure." Donald Trump swore an oath the Supreme Court on Monday at a White House nomination ceremony. The 53-year-old magistrate was confirmed Saturday by the Senate after a political standoff several weeks, including fueled by charges of sexual assault against him. "Those who apply to serve our country deserve a fair and dignified examination, not a campaign of personal and political destruction based on lies and deception," the president added.

Brett Kavanaugh said, "My goal now is to represent justice in the best of ways"

While his confirmation was fiercely opposed by the Democrats, Judge Kavanaugh promised on his side to be "impartial" in the highest court of the United States. "The Supreme Court is a judicial institution, it is not a partisan or political institution," said the "Kavanaugh Justice". "The confirmation process in the Senate has been litigious and intense. This procedure is complete. My goal now is to represent justice in the best way possible, "he said, surrounded by his wife and children. Brett Kavanaugh, 53, was sworn in before the high court in a private ceremony on Saturday night, just hours after narrowly getting the green light from the Senate.

The appointment of Kavanaugh held the United States in suspense. The magistrate appeared on track to be confirmed when, in mid-September, Christine Blasey Ford stepped out of the shadows to accuse her of an attempted rape dating back to 1982, when she was 15 years old and 17, which he vigorously denied. Two other women also accused her of sexual misconduct in the 1980s. These accusations threatened to derail her appointment. After the two parties' hearing and further investigation by the FBI, which did not reveal new elements, three undecided senators tipped the scales in favor of the judge. But, with 50 votes in favor and 48 against, the magistrate is the worst-confirmed judge of the Supreme Court since 1881.

Progressives in minority

The arrival of this fierce defender of conservative values ​​places the progressive judges in a minority, with four judges out of nine, in the temple of American law, which ensures the constitutionality of laws and arbitrates the most difficult subjects of society: death, same-sex marriage, right to abortion, defense of the environment ... This is not the first time that there is a majority of judges appointed by Republican leaders but, so far, several judges had held 'pivot' positions. This was notably the case of Judge Anthony Kennedy, whom Brett Kavanaugh replaces. Conservative on issues of voting rights in particular, he defended progressive views on the rights of homosexuals or abortion.

If the decisions are too ideological, the high court risks however to see its legitimacy crumble. At the beginning of July, only 53% of Americans approved its action with big disparities according to the political affiliations: 78% of opinion positive at the Republicans, 38% at the Democrats, according to a study Gallup. "We do not have an army, we do not have money, the only way to make people follow our decisions is that they respect us," said Elena Kagan this weekend, who has been on the Supreme Court since 2010. And to call his colleagues to moderation: "All of us have an obligation to think about the legitimacy of the Court. We can not be as politicized as the other institutions in the country. "

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