Sotomayor apologizes to Kavanaugh

Sotomayor's original comments, which suggested that Kavanaugh did not understand the lives of hourly workers, had sparked widespread debate about the public divisions within the nation's highest court.

In her apology, she described her remarks as 'inappropriate' and expressed regret for the hurt they caused.

The incident underscores the continuing tensions on the court as it grapples with highly polarized cases on immigration and executive power.

Legal analysts view the public mea culpa as an attempt to restore a sense of collegiality and preserve the court's institutional reputation.