Today marks the start of the US Supreme Court’s 2018-2019 term, and once again only eight justices will participate in the high court’s docket while the U.S. Senate debates a nominee. As the FBI begins its "limited" inquiry into sexual assault allegations against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, court watchers are measuring up the controversy to past nominations.

McGeorge Constitutional Law Professor John Sims discusses how the Kavanaugh nomination compares to Justice Clarence Thomas joining the court in 1991, Justice Abe Fortas resigning in 1968 and the failed nominations of Judge Robert Bork and Judge Douglas Ginsburg in 1987 and 1988. The Bork-Ginsburg nominations lead to the confirmation of Justice Anthony Kennedy, who left the court earlier this summer.