The Senate confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's US Supreme Court pick, descended into chaos on its first day as protesters interrupted proceedings and Democrats complained about Republicans blocking access to documents.

Key points: Dozens of protesters shout out during hearing

Dozens of protesters shout out during hearing Kavanaugh is expected to move court further to right

Kavanaugh is expected to move court further to right Opponents say Kavanaugh poses threat to abortion rights, healthcare access, gun control

With Democratic senators repeatedly interrupting the Judiciary Committee's Republican chairman Chuck Grassley at the outset of the hearing and dozens of shouting protesters removed one by one by security personnel, the session quickly became a ruckus.

"This is the first confirmation for a Supreme Court justice I've seen, basically, according to mob rule," Republican senator John Cornyn said, a characterisation Democrats rejected.

"What we've heard is the noise of democracy," Democratic senator Dick Durbin said.

A smiling Mr Kavanaugh — the conservative federal appeals court judge picked by Mr Trump for a lifetime job on the top US judicial body — entered the hearing room with family members.

But moments after Senator Grassley opened the session, Democrats decried the withholding of documents concerning the nominee's White House work more than a decade ago and asked to have the proceedings adjourned.

"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 Senator Grassley's "sense of decency and integrity" and said the withholding of the documents by Republicans and the White House left politicians unable to properly vet Mr Kavanaugh.

Senator Grassley called the Democrats' request to halt the hearing "out of order" and accused them of obstruction.

Protesters, mostly women, took turns yelling as senators spoke, shouting, "This is a travesty of justice", "Our democracy is broken" and "Vote no on Kavanaugh".

Demonstrators voiced concern about what they saw as the threat posed by Mr Kavanaugh to abortion rights, healthcare access and gun control.

US Capitol Police reported that 61 people were removed from the committee room and charged with disorderly conduct.

Nine more demonstrators were removed from another Senate office building and charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding.

Senator Dick Durbin told Mr Kavanaugh the opposition being shown at the hearing reflected the concern many Americans have over Mr Trump's "contempt of the rule of law" and the judge's own expansive views on executive power.

"It's that president who's decided you are his man," Mr Durbin said.

"Are people nervous about this, concerned about this? Of course they are."

Brett Kavanaugh is due to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. ( AP: Andrew Harnik )

Kavanaugh says he will be 'a team player'

In Mr Kavanaugh's own statement at the end of more than seven hours of arguing, the federal appeals judge spoke repeatedly about the importance of an independent judiciary and the need to keep the court above partisan politics.

With his wife, two children and parents sitting behind him, Mr Kavanaugh called himself a judge with a straightforward judicial philosophy.

"A judge must be independent and must interpret the law, not make the law. A judge must interpret statutes as written. A judge must interpret the Constitution as written, informed by history and tradition and precedent," he said.

"The Supreme Court must never, never be viewed as a partisan institution."

Mr Kavanaugh also promised to be "a team player on the Team of Nine".

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Tweeting about the hearing, Mr Trump said proceedings were "truly a display of how mean, angry, and despicable the other side is."

Brett Kavanaugh's factbox Age: 53 (born February 12, 1965 in Washington, DC)

53 (born February 12, 1965 in Washington, DC) Education: BA, Yale University 1987; JD, Yale Law School 1990

BA, Yale University 1987; JD, Yale Law School 1990 Since 2006: Judge in US Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit

Judge in US Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit 2003-06: Staff secretary to president George W Bush

Staff secretary to president George W Bush 2001-03: White House counsel's office

White House counsel's office 1997-98, 1999-2001: Partner at Kirkland and Ellis law firm

Partner at Kirkland and Ellis law firm 1994-97: Associate counsel at Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr

Associate counsel at Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr 1993-94: Law clerk, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy

Law clerk, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy 1992-93: Office of Solicitor General

The president's comment followed the statements of Democratic senators who warned that Trump was, in the words of Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, "selecting a justice on the Supreme Court who potentially will cast a decisive vote in his own case."

Republicans hold a slim Senate majority and can confirm Mr Kavanaugh if they stay united. There were no signs of Republican defections during the hearing.

If confirmed, Mr Kavanaugh is expected to move the 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 they would press Mr Kavanaugh on abortion, gun rights and presidential power when they get to question him on Wednesday (local time) in a hearing due to run through until Friday.

Republican senator Orrin Hatch grew visibly irritated as protesters interrupted him.

"I think we ought to have this loudmouth removed," he said.

Barring a major surprise over the next two days of questioning, the committee is expected to vote along party lines to send Mr Kavanaugh's nomination to the full Senate.

Kavanaugh turns back on father of shooting victim

Sorry, this video has expired Brett Kavanaugh turns his back on father of Parkland shooting victim

Mr Trump nominated Mr Kavanaugh, 53, to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement on June 27.

Democrats have demanded in vain to see documents relating to Mr Kavanaugh's time as staff secretary to former president George W Bush from 2003 to 2006.

During the hearing Mr Kavanaugh sat, fingers intertwined, quietly staring ahead at the committee members as protesters in the audience screamed while being dragged out of the room. He occasionally jotted notes on paper.

As the hearing paused for a lunch break, Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the Parkland, Florida high school mass shooting in February, tried to talk to Mr Kavanaugh but the nominee turned away.

Video of the encounter was shared widely on social media.

Afterwards Mr Guttenberg took to Twitter, claiming that Mr Kavanaugh "did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence".

There is a long history of heated fights over US Supreme Court nominations, with anger in both parties.

Reuters/AP