The U.S. Senate Votes 50 to 48 to Confirm Brett Kavanaugh as the 114th Justice of the Supreme Court

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – After weeks of contention, the U.S. Senate votes 50 to 48 to confirm Brett Kavanaugh as the 114th Justice of the Supreme Court.

The final vote to confirm Kavanaugh today was no surprise. Late Friday Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine spoke on the Senate floor confirming her “yes” vote for Kavanaugh. Her vote was almost immediately echoed by Joe Manchin, Democrat of West Virginia, who also said he would vote “yes.”

Kavanaugh’s confirmation did not come without controversy due to looming allegations of sexual misconduct while he was a student at Yale. By most accounts, his lifelong appointment to the Supreme Court is a huge victory for Republicans. Kavanaugh will replace retired Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.

Updated 3:40p.m. Central Time

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Latest on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh (all times local):

4:20p.m.

Brett Kavanaugh will soon don his robes as a justice. The Supreme Court says he will be sworn in later Saturday.

In a statement, the court says Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the Constitutional Oath and retired Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy will administer the Judicial Oath in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court. Both oaths will be administered so Kavanaugh can participate in the work of the court immediately.

A formal investiture ceremony will take place at a special sitting of the court at a later date.

5:46 PM –

Kavanaugh is now sworn in as the nation’s 114th Supreme Court Justice. The quick swearing in enables Kavanaugh to begin work immediately in advance of arguments at the court Tuesday, in two cases involving prison sentences for repeat offenders.

Demonstrators at the Supreme Court are being cleared by police. They went up the steps of the Supreme Court holding signs and chanting, “we believe survivors” and “hey hey, ho ho, Kavanaugh has got to go.” Some of the demonstrators were hanging from columns of the building.

Republicans have denounced the protests gripping the Capitol in recent days as “mob rule”.

6:18 PM –

Police are arresting demonstrators at the U S Supreme Court. They’ve been occupying steps of the Court since the Senate vote confirming Kavanaugh as the nation’s 114th Supreme Court Justice, and a quick swearing in ceremony at that location. Officers have been blocking doors to the court and have been face to face with demonstrators.