Washington (CNN)The Senate Friday morning confirmed Neil Gorsuch, a 49-year-old federal judge who could help cement a conservative majority on the bench for decades, to the Supreme Court, according to a CNN count of the vote.
How Gorsuch can transform the Supreme Court
How Gorsuch can transform the Supreme Court
The vote was 54-45, mostly along party lines. Only three Democrats: Sens. Joe Manchin, Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly, sided with the GOP majority.
Vice President Mike Pence presided over the vote, but was not needed to break a tie.
The court has been operating with eight justices since the sudden death in February 2016 of Justice Antonin Scalia and a protracted fight over President Barack Obama's nominee, Judge Merrick Garland.
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Senate Republicans refused to consider Garland's nomination until after the November election, and Trump's surprise win meant a conservative would succeed Scalia.
Gorsuch's confirmation essentially continues the ideological balance that existed before Scalia's death, with four conservatives, four liberals and Justice Anthony Kennedy as a swing vote between the blocs. At the same time, several justices are over 70 years of age, and retirement rumors surrounding Kennedy could give Trump other opportunities during his presidency to add to the conservative bloc.
"He has sterling credentials, an excellent record and an ideal judicial temperament," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "He has the independence of mind for fairness."
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/07/politics/neil-gorsuch-senate-vote/http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/07/politics/neil-gorsuch-senate-vote/
