With a Republican filibuster pushed aside, the Senate on Tuesday morning confirmed Patricia Millett to a long-vacant seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The Senate approved Millett by a 56-38 vote. Two Republicans -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine -- joined Democrats in supporting Millett.
The seat on the powerful D.C.-based appellate court has been empty since 2005, as senators used the filibuster to block nominees. Millett joins the court after having argued 32 times before the Supreme Court, the second-most by a female attorney.
"I'm confident she will serve with distinction on the federal bench," President Barack Obama said in a statement.
Two other of Obama's nominees to the appellate court, Nina Pillard and Robert Wilkin, are next up for confirmation.
"Today's up-or-down vote is a welcome step forward toward ensuring our country's second-most powerful court has a full bench," American Constitution Society President Caroline Frederickson said in a statement, adding that "93 current vacancies remain, including 38 judicial emergencies."
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