WATCH LIVE: Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing Day One

When Justice Anthony Kennedy announced plans to retire from this seat on the United States Supreme Court roughly a couple of months ago, political and legal experts alike pointed to this day as a day to follow. Why? Because today is the day that President Donald Trump’s nominee Brett Kavanaugh will start the confirmation hearings that will lead to his appointment to the nation’s highest court….or not.

Kavanaugh’s appointment would tip the balance of the Supreme Court to a decidedly more conservative tilt, and pro-choice advocates are gravely worried that his nomination would lead to overturning Roe vs. Wade. Conservatives are delighted, however, by the prospect of having a majority of Supreme Court appointed by Republican presidents.

Kavanaugh served as White House legal counsel under George W. Bush, and prior to that, served under the Independent Counsel of Kenneth Starr, which critics saw as an overtly political inquiry designed to bring down the Clinton administration (and eventually led to the 42nd president’s impeachment.)

As such, there are tens and thousands of Kavanaugh’s documents and emails that have not been released by the White House for review, citing “presidential privilege” in keeping them from Congress (and the public) for review. These contents and opinions revealed in these documents — as well as Kavanaugh’s position on whether a sitting president can be brought under indictment — are sure to be discussed in great detail during these hearings.

Watch the first day of his hearings above, courtesy of a live stream provided by PBS.