Biden, Jackson watch confirmation vote

President Biden and Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson watched Thursday’s Senate vote together at the White House as Jackson became the first Black woman to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.

Jackson won 53 votes — more than enough for her confirmation. The final tally was held up briefly to allow for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to vote. He voted against the confirmation.

Biden and Jackson watched the vote unfold in the Roosevelt Room. Photographers were allowed in the room to capture the moment, though reporters were not.

Three Republicans, Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), voted for Jackson.

Jackson is the first Black woman to be confirmed to the nation’s highest court and will be just the third Black justice to sit on the Supreme Court bench when she is sworn in later this year. Justice Stephen Breyer, whom Jackson is replacing, will remain on the bench until the end of the current term this summer.

Vice President Harris, who is the first Black American and first woman to serve as vice president, presided over the historic vote.

Biden will hold an event with Jackson and Harris on Friday at the White House to celebrate her confirmation, the White House announced.