Updated at 4:37 p.m. ET
BRIAN NAYLOR, NPR
A sharply divided Senate — reflecting a deeply divided nation — voted almost entirely along party lines Saturday afternoon to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The vote was 50-48. Only one Democrat, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, joined Republicans in backing Kavanaugh. One Republican, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted "present" although she said she opposed the nomination. One GOP senator was absent during the vote because of his daughter's wedding thousands of miles from Washington, D.C.
In a tweet soon after the vote, President Trump celebrated the confirmation and said Kavanaugh will be officially sworn in soon.
I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our GREAT NOMINEE, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court. Later today, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2018
The Supreme Court said in a statement that Kavanaugh will be sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy Saturday evening. Roberts will administer the constitutional oath and Kennedy will administer the judicial oath in private ceremony at the court.
"Both oaths will be administered so that (Kavanaugh) can begin to participate in the work of the Court immediately," the statement said. A formal investiture ceremony will take place at a later date, the Supreme Court also said.
Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.
