Heightened Security As Brett Kavanaugh Formally Takes Supreme Court Seat

Brett Kavanaugh speaks after being sworn-in at the White House last month

Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 1 p.m. ET

Brett Kavanaugh formally took his seat as the 114th justice at the traditional investiture ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday morning. There was, however, a difference in the way the event was handled. The court said that because of security concerns, Kavanaugh would not walk down the court’s long outside staircase with the chief justice.

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended the ceremony. Prior to Trump’s arrival, the atmosphere in the ceremonial courtroom was much like a cocktail party, with old friends from the George W. Bush administration, in which Kavanaugh served, greeting each other.