Trump Selects Brett Kavanaugh As SCOTUS Appointee

WASHINGTON (CBSLA)  -- President Trump on Monday selected 53-year-old Brett Kavanaugh to replace Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.

The president made the announcement in the East Room of the White House.

Protests were held around the nation as liberals, democrats and progressives fear the president's right-leaning pick will give conservatives a majority for decades to come.

Why did Kavanaugh get the nod? He has extensive experience working in D.C. courts and its political scene, officials said. He once served as a clerk under Justice Kennedy.

Last year, Trump picked Neil Gorsuch to replace the late Antonin Scalia.

Kavanaugh shook Trump's hand and then took to the podium.

He said, "Mr. President, thank you. Throughout this process, I've witnessed first hand your appreciation for the vital role of the American judiciary. No president has ever consulted more or widely or talked to more people from more backgrounds to seek input about a Supreme Court nomination."

Establishment republicans lauded the selection. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who blocked President Obama from seating Merrick Garland, called the Kavanaugh pick "a superb" choice.

Democrats were quick to express their displeasure and outrage.

GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, condemned the choice.

"Kavanaugh's extreme conservative record and his past support by anti-LGBTQ hate group Family Resource Council (FRC) are deeply concerning. Kavanaugh could carry out the expressed views of President Trump, who as a candidate stated that he disagreed with the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges and said he would 'strongly consider' appointing judges who would overturn the decision," GLAAD said.

Cong. Adam Schiff pointed out the president picked someone who doesn't believe the president should be subject to criminal investigations.

California Senator Kamala Harris announced she is already team #NoKavanaugh.

"Judge Brett Kavanaugh represents a direct and fundamental threat to that promise of equality and so I will oppose his nomination to the Supreme Court. Specifically, as a replacement for Justice Anthony Kennedy, his nomination presents an existential threat to the health care of hundreds of millions of Americans."

She added, "Judge Kavanaugh has consistently proven to be a conservative ideologue instead of a mainstream jurist. As recently as last year, he disregarded Supreme Court precedent and opposed the health care rights of a vulnerable young woman. That ruling was overturned by a sitting of all the judges on his court. In 2015, Kavanaugh wrote that an employer, based on their personal beliefs, can deny their employee access to birth control coverage."

Sen. Chuck Schumer, from New York, clearly also not a fan of the appointee.

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• Brett Kavanaugh
• Neil Gorsuch