Pres. Trump Hosts Ceremonial Swearing-in For Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh speaks during his ceremonial public swearing-in, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., October 8, 2018.

"On behalf of our nation, I would like to apologize to Brett and his family for the awful pain and suffering that you have been forced to endure", Trump, standing in the East Room of the White House, said in the televised event.

"On behalf of our nation, I want to apologise to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family for the awful pain and suffering you have been forced to endure", he said.

"Those who step forward to serve our country deserve a fair and dignified evaluation, not a campaign of political and personal destruction based on lies and deception", he said.

Clinton also criticized Trump for mocking Christine Blasey Ford, the first woman to publicly accuse Kavanaugh of sexual assault, on the eve of the Senate's confirmation vote. He said the high court "is not a partisan or political institution" and assured he took the job with "no bitterness".

He was referring to the acrimonious debate over Mr Kavanaugh's nomination, after sexual assault allegations were made against him.

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".

Those who were there held signs saying, "We will not forget" and "We do not consent", following the acrimonious fight that culminated in Kavanaugh's 50-48 Senate confirmation Saturday.

Trump apologized to the Kavanaugh family on Monday night for the Democrat-led smear of their reputation and the ugly confirmation process.

Retired Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, right, administers the Judicial Oath to Judge Brett Kavanaugh in the Justices' Conference Room of the Supreme Court Building, Oct. 6, 2018.

So, cards on the table, I'm not going to call Brett Kavanaugh "Justice Kavanaugh" most of the time. While Kavanaugh's confirmation gives the court a reliable conservative majority, many experts say this week's cases will not produce controversial 5-4 rulings.

Some Democrats have talked of impeaching Kavanaugh, though the process is hard with a two-thirds Senate majority required to remove a federal judge. The new justice's four clerks all are women, the first time that has happened. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who said she would be a no vote, voting present to make up for her Republican colleague Sen. Kavanaugh had said during his confirmation hearing in September that he would hire an all female clerk if confirmed. The president later hosted a reception at the White House for Sotomayor, as he did a year later with Kagan. Court watchers will be looking to see whether the new justice asks questions at arguments and, if so, what he asks.

What did Justice Kavanaugh tell the ceremony?

Kavanaugh took the oath in a more hurried procedure on Saturday, but the White House version will be a chance for the Trump administration to celebrate publicly. In 2020, we may keep President Donald Trump.

With justices seated by seniority, President Donald Trump's two appointees will flank the Supreme Court bench, Justice Neil Gorsuch at one end and Kavanaugh at the other.