The U.S. Senate voted 53-47 to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States on April 7, 2022. When she assumes office, she will become the first Black woman to serve on the highest court in United States history. Jackson will be sworn in when Justice Stephen Breyer retires during the court’s summer recess, which usually starts in late June or early July.
Jackson was the first Supreme Court nominee to receive a confirmation vote in a 50-50 Senate. All 48 Democrats and the two independents who caucus with Democrats voted to confirm. Additionally, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) also voted to confirm. This is the most votes a nominee has received from the opposition party since Justice Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation in 2017. Gorsuch received three Democratic votes for his confirmation.
Since Justice Samuel Alito’s confirmation in 2006, nominees have received an average of four votes from senators who don’t caucus with the President’s party. Since 1967, when the Senate held its first roll call confirmation vote after Hawaii became the 50th state, the overall average of opposition party confirmation yes votes is 28.
