While there are no blockbusters in the queue of cases before the Supreme Court when Justice Brett Kavanaugh begins his lifetime service on Oct. 9, he likely will still cast tiebreaking votes on major cases making their way through the lower courts.
Having taken the oath of office, Kavanaugh will take the seat formerly occupied by Republican-appointed Justice Anthony Kennedy, who himself cast pivotal votes on crucial cases, but repeatedly disappointed conservatives by siding with liberal justices on issues including abortion and same-sex marriage.
