Highlights from Senate vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson

The Senate voted 53-47 in a bipartisan vote on Jackson's nomination.

Last Updated: April 7, 2022, 5:29 PM EDT

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in its 233-year history, was confirmed by the Senate in a 53-47 vote Thursday.

She got three Republican votes, marking a bipartisan victory for President Joe Biden and his high court nominee.

Mar 23, 2022, 7:37 PM EDT

2nd day of questioning ends

After nearly 11 hours, the Senate Judiciary Committee's second day of questioning has ended. Jackson had two emotional moments towards the end of the day as she gave answers to Democratic Sens. Cory Booker and Alex Padilla.

While Jackson is done for the day, the senators are not. They'll now go into a closed session to review Jackson's FBI background check -- a part of the process for every nominee.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., ended the day thanking her for her "patience, dignity and grace" amid some "offensive treatment."

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2022.
ABC News

Durbin said the committee will consider the nomination on March 28 at 3 p.m. ET. That means the committee vote will be one week later, per tradition.

That puts the full Senate on track to meet its goal of confirming Jackson by April 8 -- when the Senate goes on recess.

PHOTO: Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gets a kiss from her husband Dr. Patrick Jackson at the conclusion of her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2022.
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gets a kiss from her husband Dr. Patrick Jackson, at the conclusion of her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2022.
Susan Walsh/AP

-ABC News' Trish Turner

Mar 23, 2022, 7:00 PM EDT

Jackson gets emotional recounting experience as Harvard freshman

Jackson again wiped away tears during Wednesday's questioning when Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., asked her what she'd say to "young Americans, the most diverse generation in our nation's history … some of them who may doubt that they can one day achieve the same great heights that you have?"

Sen. Alex Padilla speaks during a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2022.
Alex Brandon/AP

Jackson responded, "I hope to inspire people."

Jackson wiped away tears, saying, "Young people are the future … I want them to know that they can do and be anything."

She remained emotional as she recounted an experience she had as a freshman at Harvard.

Harvard "was different from anything I had known. There were lots of students there who were prep school kids -- like my husband -- who knew all about Harvard, and that was not me," she said, as the crowd laughed.

"The first semester I was really home sick. I was really questioning, 'Do I belong here? Can I make it in this environment?'" Jackson recounted. "And I was walking through the yard in the evening and a Black woman I did not know was passing me on the sidewalk. And she looked at me, and I guess she knew how I was feeling. And she leaned over as we crossed and said, 'Persevere.'"

Circling back to Padilla's question, Jackson said she'd tell young Americans "to persevere."

Mar 23, 2022, 5:45 PM EDT

Judge tears up as Booker invokes ancestors

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., called out Republicans for accusing Jackson of being soft on sentencing in child porn cases, noting that Jackson wasn't questioned in this way when she was appointed last year to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Booker said to Jackson, "You were put on a court, that I'm told, is considered like the second most powerful court in our land. And you were passed with bipartisan support. Nobody brought it up then. Did they not do their homework?"

Sen. Cory Booker speaks during a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2022.
Alex Brandon/AP

The Republicans' "allegations appear meritless to the point of demagoguery," Booker said.

Booker, overcome with emotion, said to Jackson when he looks at her he sees his mom and cousins, noting one of his cousins was sitting behind her at the hearing. "She had to have your back. I see my ancestors and yours," he said.

Jackson wiped away tears as Booker spoke.

PHOTO: While listening to Sen. Cory Booker speak, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's eyes fill with tears during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, on March 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
While listening to Sen. Cory Booker speak, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's eyes fill with tears during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, on March 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

While listening to Sen. Cory Booker speak, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson wipes tears from her eyes during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Booker stressed, "Nobody is going to steal that joy. You have earned this spot. You are worthy."

He later added: "God has got you."

Mar 23, 2022, 5:23 PM EDT

Graham says 'stay tuned' on his support for Jackson

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who supported Jackson's confirmation to the D.C. Circuit but has been combative at times during questioning, said to "stay tuned" about whether he would support her this time around.

"The difference between the two jobs is she can make policy with this job -- she can change the law. The D.C. Circuit, she's sort of bound by what the Supreme Court [has] done. So just say tuned," he said.

Graham continued his attacks on Jackson on Wednesday, accusing her of trying to "run out the clock."

"I like Judge Jackson. I don't think she's sympathetic as a person to child pornography, but I think her sentencing regime doesn't create deterrence," he said.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who also supported Jackson's confirmation to the D.C. Circuit, told ABC News Wednesday that she is keeping an open mind.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott

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