Highlights from Senate vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson

Just hours ahead of Judge Jackson’s expected Senate confirmation, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted what he called "judicial activism" as a threat to the court as an institution in remarks on the Senate floor.

"We've seen over and over that when judicial activism triumphs over fidelity to the rule of law, our courts mutate into clumsy proxy battlefields for arguments that belong in this chamber," McConnell said, as Republicans have attempted to characterize Jackson as sympathetic to progressive causes.

The GOP leader, again, slammed Jackson for failing to commit to opposing the Supreme Court's expansion when she was asked about her views of court-packing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"The solution is for all the justices to stay in their lane. There is one right number of justices who seek to follow the law. The number is nine. Ginsburg said it. Breyer said it. There is one right number of judges who seek to make policy," McConnell said.

Notably, Jackson, in her confirmation hearings, repeated variations of the message that she intends to "stay in my lane," if confirmed to the high court.

McConnell conceded Thursday that Jackson is barreling towards confirmation and pledged that Republicans will recognize her legitimacy as a justice -- seemingly needling Democrats for their handling of Justice Brett Kavanaugh's nomination.

"Nevertheless, our Democratic colleagues are on track to confirm our next supreme Court justice," McConnell said. "And you know what won't happen: Top Republicans will not imply she is illegitimate we will not call for court-packing I won't be joining any mobs outside her new workplace and threatening her by name."

-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the vote to end debate on Judge Jackson's nomination is on track for the 11 a.m. hour ahead of the historic confirmation vote around 1:45 p.m.

"The Senate gavels in this morning for a joyous, momentous, groundbreaking day," Schumer said from the Senate chamber. "This morning, we will vote to end debate on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be a justice on the United States Supreme Court. And later this afternoon, the Senate will fulfill its constitutional duty to finally confirm this remarkable and groundbreaking jurist."

Schumer praised Jackson as encapsulating the "three Bs" -- brilliant, beloved and belonging on the Supreme Court -- and said the nation is long overdue to have a Black woman sit on the high bench.

"In the 233-year history of the Supreme Court never, never has a Black woman held the title of justice. Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first, and I believe the first of more to come," Schumer said.

"This milestone should have happened generations ago," he added, "but we are always trotting on a path towards a more perfect union."

"Nevertheless, America today is taking a giant step towards making our union more perfect. People sometimes talk about standing on the shoulder of giants. Well, Judge Jackson will go down in history as an American giant upon whose shoulders others will stand tall -- and our democracy will be better off for it."

The Senate Judiciary Committee has adjourned after four days of Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Jackson, Biden’s first high court nominee and the first Black woman in history considered for the position by the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer confirmed earlier Thursday that her nomination is still on track for final consideration in the Senate before Easter.

"Once the committee concludes its work, I will move to have her nomination come to the floor in short order,” Schumer said. "There is not a shred of doubt in my mind she merits confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

While the White House had hoped the hearings would get Republicans on board to help confirm her, it’s still unclear if any will vote for Jackson, who is back on Capitol Hill Thursday to try to win more support.

In a sign that will be an uphill battle, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in his floor remarks that Jackson continued to "deflect" questions on her judicial philosophy and on court-packing and argued that she put senators through an "endless circle of evasion.”

Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the committee will consider her nomination on March 28, putting the committee vote on track for April 4 and allowing Democrats to meet their goal of a full Senate confirmation vote on Jackson by April 8 -- when the Senate goes on recess.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

All Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, excluding Sen. Ben Sasse, have continued to rail against Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., to allow them to see several pre-sentencing reports in child pornography cases Judge Jackson handled, claiming they can't evaluate her judicial record without them.

Because pre-trial sentencing reports are kept confidential to protect victims' privacy, Durbin has rejected the request which he called "reckless."

"No one wants to harm children," said Sen. Marsha Blackburn. R-Tenn., to which Durbin interrupted, “Then leave the reports concealed.”

“If you are a parent of some child who has been exploited, and you recognize this judge's name is perhaps presented at the trial, and realize that now the report that has been kept in confidence, all these years is not going to be handed over to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, what would you think as a mother?” Durbin said.

Durbin noted that it's information the Senate Judiciary Committee has never requested.