Kavanaugh's comments to judges and lawyers in Kansas City come as the Supreme Court faces criticism over using emergency orders.

The conservative justice pushed back against criticism that the court is not explaining its decisions in cases that arise on the "shadow docket."

Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday defended the way the Supreme Court is handling the flood of emergency cases that has reached its docket during President Donald Trump’s administration, pushing back on mounting criticism that the court is often resolving those disputes with little to no explanation.