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Utah’s Hatch, Lee cheer on as Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed in the tightest Supreme Court vote in modern history

Washington • The Senate on Saturday confirmed the newest associate justice on the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, anchoring him on the bench that will now be the most conservative in a generation.

Utah’s senators, Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, backed Kavanaugh in the closest confirmation vote in modern times, with a polarizing 50-48 margin.

“Confirming Brett Kavanaugh today to the United States Supreme Court is one of the most important things we have done in my 42 years in the Senate,” said Hatch, who is retiring this year after serving since 1977 and has been involved in 15 confirmation hearings in his tenure.