By Chantal Da Silva
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As the Senate Judiciary Committee launches confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday morning, the White House has released excerpts of the judge's opening statements, in which he vows to be a "pro-law judge."
"A good judge must be an umpire—a neutral and impartial arbiter who favors no litigant or policy," President Donald Trump's pick for Supreme Court will say during his opening statements, according to Fox News.
"I don't decide cases based on personal or policy preferences. I am not a pro-plaintiff or pro-defendant judge," the Supreme Court nominee will say. "I am not a pro-prosecution or pro-defense judge. I am a pro-law judge."
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"If confirmed to the Court, I would be part of a Team of Nine, committed to deciding cases according to the Constitution and laws of the United States."
Kavanaugh's planned opening statements come after the nominee faced increased scrutiny over his stance on certain issues, including abortion and gun control.
Specifically, Democrats and reproductive rights advocates have sounded the alarm that Kavanaugh's appointment could spell the end of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision issued by the U.S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of laws criminalizing or restricting access to abortions.
Kavanaugh's appointment could bring a five-justice conservative majority to the Supreme Court, with the nominee set to replace retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, a conservative-centrist who sided with liberals to see Roe v. Wade upheld.
The Supreme Court nominee has a history of supporting critics of that landmark decision. If he does plan to see the ruling overturned, he will likely have the support of an administration that has vowed to see Roe v. Wade "consigned to the ash heap of history," according to comments made by now-Vice President Mike Pence before the administration took power.
"I'm pro-life and I don't apologize for it," the then GOP vice presidential nominee said.
Read more: Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing begins: How to watch
During the 2016 presidential election campaign, Trump also shared similar sentiments, saying he intended to put "pro-life justices on the court."
Asked during an interview with Fox News's Chris Wallace about whether the then-presidential candidate wanted to see the Supreme Court overturn the ruling, Trump said, "Well, if we put another two or perhaps three justices on, that's really what's going to be—that will happen, and that will happen automatically, in my opinion, because I am putting pro-life justices on the court."
Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday morning.
The nominee is expected to be heavily questioned on his abortion stance, as well as on gun control and possibly even on his views of President Trump.
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