The U.S. Senate voted 53-47 to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Thursday, making history as the first Black female Supreme Court Justice.
Most senators voted along party lines, with all 50 Democrats voting to confirm Jackson and three Republican senators breaking ranks with the GOP in support of Jackson, according to the Associated Press. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) were the only Republicans to vote in favor of Jackson’s confirmation.
Both Indiana senators, Mike Braun and Todd Young, voted against confirming Jackson.
Jackson will replace Justice Stephen Breyer when he retires this summer. The Supreme Court will remain dominated by conservatives 6-3.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the historic nature of the moment in a speech following Jackson’s confirmation, according to the New York Times.
“How many millions of kids in generations past could have benefited from such a role model?” Schumer said.
The Capitol filled with people to witness the historic moment, with the Associated Press reporting the Senate’s upper galleries were almost entirely full for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to be Vice President of the United States, presided over the vote. When Harris announced the final tally, the chamber erupted in cheers, according to the Associated Press.
President Joe Biden and Jackson watched the vote together from the White House, embracing as they received the news.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misspelled Ketanji Brown Jackson’s name.
