The Latest: Kavanaugh denies he suggested Roe not settled

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Senate hearings on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh (all times local):

12:40 p.m.

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is denying that he once suggested the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights is not settled law.

Kavanaugh is explaining a 2003 email in which he wrote the following: "I am not sure that all legal scholars refer to Roe as the settled law of the land at the Supreme Court level since Court can always overrule its precedent, and three current Justices on the Court would do so."

Kavanaugh said Thursday that he was not discussing his views, but rather "what legal scholars might say." He said he offered the comments on a draft op-ed in support of Republican judicial nominees because, "I'm always concerned with accuracy."

Kavanaugh has repeatedly described the abortion ruling as important Supreme Court precedent difficult to overturn.

12:25 p.m.

Democratic senators contend that a 2003 email from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh casts doubt on whether he considers Roe v. Wade settled law.

In the email obtained by The Associated Press, Kavanaugh says not all legal scholars call the abortion case settled law since the Supreme Court can "always overrule its precedent."

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington says the emails "confirms our worst fears" about Kavanaugh. She notes that Kavanaugh said in the email that there were three justices at the time who would overturn Roe v. Wade.

Murray asserts that if Kavanaugh is confirmed to the court, "Roe v Wade will be overturned."

Kavanaugh on Wednesday called the abortion case an "important precedent" that has "been reaffirmed many times."

12:12 p.m.

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is clarifying that he can't recall any "inappropriate conversations" with a Washington law firm about special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

Sen. Kamala Harris of California asked Kavanaugh late Wednesday if he had spoken about the Russia investigation with anyone at the law firm founded by Marc Kasowitz, who has represented Trump.

Kavanaugh told Harris he couldn't think of any such conversations. He added that he would need to see a list of the firm's lawyers.

Asked the question again Thursday by Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Kavanaugh said, "I don't recall any inappropriate conversations about the investigation."

Harris promised to follow up with Kavanaugh on the topic. Senators are now questioning Kavanaugh for the second day.

11:25 a.m.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are urging senators to reject the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court.

Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, the group's chairman, says Kavanaugh would weaken protections under the Voting Rights Act. He cited his ruling in a South Carolina case upholding the state's new voter ID law.

Kavanaugh's defenders say his ruling resolved the case, as the Justice Department under President Barack Obama chose not to appeal.

House members don't get to vote on Kavanaugh, but Richmond plans to testify about Kavanaugh as an outside witness on Friday, the final day of confirmation hearings.

10:47 a.m.

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey says he's going to make public an email from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, even if it puts him at risk of being expelled from the Senate.

Booker says he will violate a committee rule and release an email from Kavanaugh on the subject of racial profiling. The Judiciary Committee is now holding that email on a confidential basis.

Calling it an act of civil disobedience, Booker says he wants to expose that some of the emails being held back "have nothing to do with national security."

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas called Booker's action "irresponsible and conduct unbecoming a senator."

He read a rule contemplating expulsion of senators for violating Senate confidentiality rules. Several Democrats said in response, "bring it on."

9:55 a.m.

The Associated Press has obtained an email in which Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh disputes that the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion access is settled law.

Kavanaugh's 2003 comments came while reviewing an op-ed in support of two judicial nominees at the George W. Bush White House.

Here's what Kavanaugh wrote: "I am not sure that all legal scholars refer to Roe as the settled law of the land at the Supreme Court level since Court can always overrule its precedent, and three current Justices on the Court would do so."

Kavanaugh was referring to justices at that time — meaning in 2003. The email was sent to a Republican Senate aide. The document is partially black out.

Kavanaugh has taken a different tone during his confirmation hearings, stressing how difficult it is to overturn a precedent such as Roe.

12:30 a.m.

Senators are getting into their final round of questioning of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and so far the appeals court judge appears to have avoided any major missteps in his confirmation hearings.

Kavanaugh also doesn't seem to have changed many minds on the GOP-run Senate Judiciary Committee. President Donald Trump says he's pleased with his nominee's performance.

Kavanaugh underwent a 12-hour session of questioning that ended late Wednesday. The judge left unanswered questions over how he would handle investigations of the executive branch and whether he would step aside if cases involving Trump under special counsel Robert Mueller's probe end up at the court.

Democrats have been pressing Kavanaugh for his views on abortion rights, gun control and other issues. Protesters have repeatedly interrupted the proceedings