The US Senate confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's Supreme Court choice, has opened in chaos.
Democrats protested about Republicans blocking access to documents stemming from the nominee's White House work more than a decade ago.
A smiling Judge Kavanaugh entered the hearing room along with family members.
But moments after the Judiciary Committee's Republican chairman Chuck Grassley opened the session, Democrats decried the withholding of the documents and asked to have the proceedings adjourned.
Shrieking protesters also disrupted the hearing.
They took turns yelling as senators spoke, with one shouting, "This is a travesty of justice," another shouting "Our democracy is broken" and a third urging, "Vote no on Kavanaugh."
Security personnel removed dozens of demonstrators from the room.
"We cannot possibly move forward. We have not had an opportunity to have a meaningful hearing," Democratic Senator Kamala Harris said.
Democratic Senator Cory Booker appealed to Mr Grassley's "sense of decency and integrity" and said the withholding of the documents by Republicans and the White House deprived lawmakers of being able to properly vet the nominee.
"What are we trying to hide? Why are we rushing?" asked Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy.
Republican Senator John Cornyn accused Democrats of trying to conduct the hearing by "mob rule."
Mr Grassley ignored the Democrats' request to halt the hearing, saying it was "out of order" and accused them of obstruction.
Republicans hold a slim Senate majority and can confirm Judge Kavanaugh if they stay united.
So far, there are no signs of Republican defections.
Mr Trump nominated the 53-year-old to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement in June.
Democrats have demanded in vain to see documents relating to the time Judge Kavanaugh spent as staff secretary to Republican former President George W. Bush from 2003 to 2006.
That job involved managing paper flow from advisers to Mr Bush.
"I think we ought to give the American people the opportunity to hear whether Judge Kavanaugh should be on the Supreme Court," Mr Grassley said.
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Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal called the hearing a "charade" and "a mockery of our norms."
Republicans have released some but not all of the existing documents concerning Judge Kavanaugh's two years as a lawyer in the White House Counsel's Office prior to become staff secretary.
If confirmed, Kavanaugh is expected to move the high court - which already had a conservative majority - further to the right.
Senate Democratic leaders have vowed a fierce fight to try to block his confirmation.
Democrats signalled that they would press Judge Kavanaugh in depth on abortion and gun rights, among other issues, when they get to question the nominee.
Republicans have said that Democrats have more than enough documents to assess Judge Kavanaugh's record, including his 12 years of judicial opinions as a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
They have accused Democrats of seeking to delay the hearing for purely political reasons.
There is a long history of heated fights over US Supreme Court nominations, with anger in both parties.
As the hearing eventually got under way amid constant interruptions from protesters, Mr Grassley sought to turn attention to Judge Kavanaugh's qualifications, calling him "one of the most qualified nominees - if not the most qualified nominee - I have seen."
"A good judge must be an umpire - a neutral and impartial arbiter who favours no litigant or policy," Judge Kavanaugh said in written remarks released in advance of the hearing.
"I don't decide cases based on personal or policy preferences."
The Senate is likely to vote on confirmation by the end of the month.
The court begins its next term in October.
