Powerful note left next to Christine Ford's microphone 'by Chuck Grassley' at Brett Kavanaugh hearing

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Ahead of Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony to the US Senate regarding her allegation Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her, a note was left next to her microphone which simply read: “Good luck, Dr Ford”.

The note was spotted just before Dr Ford began hours of testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the body set to vote on Mr Kavanaugh’s potential lifetime appointment to the country’s highest court.

It is unclear who wrote the note and who may have placed it next to Dr Ford's microphone, but an aide told ABC News the note was written by committee chairman Senator Chuck Grassley.

Mr Grassley appeared to have a rapport with Dr Ford as the hearing began, joking with her about needing coffee ahead of her opening statement.

He also said he hoped for a "safe, comfortable, and dignified" hearing for both Dr Ford and Mr Kavanaugh and noted he wanted a "show of civility" from his colleagues.

He said Dr Ford had been "mistreated" in having her identity made public, but Dr Ford later explained it was her decision to come forward after members of the media had been outside of her home and in her workplace asking her questions.

"I look forward to a fair and respectful hearing, that's what we promised Dr Ford," Mr Grassley noted.

During the course of the hearing, Mr Grassley did hit out at Democrats, interrupting several of the women while they were speaking including Democratic Senators Dianne Feinstein and Amy Klobuchar as well as the Republican-appointed sex crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell.

Ms Mitchell is in the room to ask questions of Dr Ford to avoid the "optics" of several male Republican senators doing so.

However, she also said she and her husband and two children have gotten verbal abuse, death threats, and have had to leave their home, only meeting together in clandestine locations for safety.

Mr Grassley's demeanour towards Dr Ford appears markedly different to how Anita Hill was treated in 1991.

Ms Hill, a lawyer, had accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment just ahead of his confirmation to the court.

At the time, several senators across political aisles had questioned Ms Hill's credibility and wondered why she had continued to work under Mr Thomas after the alleged harassment.

Supporters of Dr Ford were lined up outside of Capitol Hill and wore teal in honour of the teal suit Ms Hill wore on the first day of her testimony 27 years ago.

Ms Hill has called the lack of an FBI investigation and Republican's refusal to hear from additional witnesses at Dr Ford's request - including the examiner who administered Dr Ford's polygraph test and Mark Judge, the other man Dr Ford said was present during the alleged assault - "a real mockery".

Dr Ford will continue her testimony throughout the day and Mr Kavanaugh will appear before the committee to reply.