Hundreds of people gathered at the U.S. Capitol on Monday as Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing got underway for a vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Barrett's nomination with weeks left until the presidential election has touched off a partisan firestorm, as her confirmation could cement a Republican-appointed majority for years to come. Both supporters and opponents gathered outside due to restrictions in place because of COVID-19, while members of the Senate Judiciary Committee made their opening statements inside. Barrett, who is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, was nominated by President Donald Trump to fill a vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last month. Read more: As Democrats Raise Alarm Over Barrett Materials, Litigation for Kavanaugh's Papers Drags On A Snapshot of Judge Amy Coney Barrett's 7th Circuit Law Clerks Ten Questions for SCOTUS Nominee Amy Coney Barrett