Brett Kavanaugh has taken the bench with his new US Supreme Court colleagues for the first time.
The new justice dived into his new job, asking a handful of questions in the first arguments of the day following a traditional welcome from Chief Justice John Roberts, who wished Kavanaugh "a long and happy career in our common calling".
In court, Kavanaugh asked questions of both sides in arguments over increased prison sentences for repeat offenders. He jumped in with his first question after most of the other justices had spoken.
Questions from Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump's two high-court picks, suggested they could vote against the Trump administration and side with a criminal defendant from Florida who is fighting an increase in his sentence.
Earlier, police barricades were up in front of the court, but the few protesters on hand congregated near the garage where the justices enter.
Protesters held signs that said, "We will not forget" and "We do not consent," following the acrimonious fight that culminated in Kavanaugh's 50-48 confirmation by the Senate on Saturday.
The new justice said on Monday that his two daughters are expected to be in the courtroom as their father and his new colleagues were hearing arguments.
The scene on Tuesday morning contrasted sharply with a loud demonstration on Saturday, when chanting protesters climbed the normally off-limits Supreme Court steps and plaza.
