US judge Brett Kavanaugh takes oath at the Supreme Court after senate confirmation vote.

US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts (R) administers the Constitutional Oath to Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who is now the ninth justice on the court. [Courtesy]

Conservative US judge Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court Saturday by a razor-thin margin in the Senate, ending months of partisan rancor over his nomination and offering Donald Trump one of the biggest victories of his presidency.

Kavanaugh was sworn in shortly after the Senate voted 50-48 in his favor -- a move that cemented the high court's shift to the right under the Republican leader, who has chosen two of the nine sitting justices.