Shouting protesters and sharp exchanges between senators dominated the opening hours of the confirmation hearing for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Protesters rained down cries and accusations from the back of the hearing room Tuesday calling Kavanaugh an “enemy of women’s rights” and “a threat to this democracy.” The nominee, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, largely ignored the disruptions behind him, staring ahead at the senators before him.