The Latest: Senate confirms Trump nominee Gorsuch
By Associated Press
Apr 7, 2017 11:07 AM CDT
The Latest: Senate confirms Trump nominee Gorsuch
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of N.Y., walks to his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 6, 2017, as Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to change Senate rules to guarantee confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. Republicans are poised to lower the threshold...   (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court (all times local):

12:05 p.m.

The Senate has confirmed Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, bringing a contentious 14-month partisan battle to a close after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

The vote was 54-45 on Friday. The victory gives President Donald Trump's 49-year-old nominee a lifetime spot on the court and his party a much-needed political win after failing to pass legislation on health care and other issues.

The final confirmation vote came after Senate Republicans rewrote the rules, voting to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster threshold on Supreme Court nominees. The change allows the Senate to proceed to the final vote with a simple majority.

Democrats opposed Gorsuch in part because Senate Republicans blocked former President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, last year.

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