Senate Confirms Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court

The Senate voted 53-47 to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Jackson, 51, will become the first black woman to serve on the highest court in the country. 

Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) joined all 50 Democratic senators to vote in favor of confirmation, with every other Republican senator voting against. Jackson will be sworn in once Justice Stephen Breyer retires this summer. 

Democrats praised the vote as a historic moment; Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) said Jackson’s confirmation “reflects the promise of progress on which our democracy rests.” Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Biden administration allowed “the far left” to “run the show” during Jackson’s nomination process.

Outlets across the spectrum featured Jackson’s confirmation prominently on Thursday afternoon. Coverage was mostly balanced, with outlets on both the right and left noting the historic nature of the story. Coverage in some left-rated outlets framed the story positively and portrayed Republican criticisms negatively; The New York Times (Lean Left) said “the vote was a rejection of Republican attempts to paint her as a liberal extremist.”