With 3 GOP Votes, Ketanji Brown Jackson Will Probable Be Supreme Court's First Black Adult female Justice

Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney
Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney

Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty; Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty; Tom Williams/CQ-Ringlet Call, Inc via Getty

Gauge Ketanji Brownish Jackson volition almost certainly exist seated on the U.Due south. Supreme Courtroom.

Following sometimes grueling testimony earlier the Senate Judiciary Committee last calendar month, President Joe Biden's nominee now has the back up of three Republicans — all but assuring she volition be confirmed when the full Senate weighs in during a vote expected this week.

Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Manus Romney of Utah have all expressed their intention to vote in favor of making Judge Jackson, 51, the country's 116th Supreme Court Justice and the start Black woman to sit on the bench.

For more on Ketanji Brownish Jackson, listen beneath to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Solar day.

"After multiple in-depth conversations with Guess Jackson and deliberative review of her tape and recent hearings, I volition back up her celebrated nomination," Murkowski said in a statement Mon. "My back up rests on Judge Jackson'due south qualifications, which no one questions; her demonstrated judicial independence; her demeanor and temperament; and the important perspective she would bring to the court every bit a replacement for Justice Breyer."

Biden nominated Jackson — fulfilling a campaign hope to select a Black woman — after Stephen Breyer announced his retirement from the high court in January.

RELATED: Ketanji Brown Jackson Visibly Moved at Confirmation Hearing as Cory Booker Calls Her His 'Straw of Hope'

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Judge Ketanji Dark-brown Jackson

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

"After reviewing Estimate Jackson'due south record and testimony, I have concluded that she is a well-qualified jurist and a person of honor," Romney said in his own argument on Monday. "While I practice not expect to agree with every decision she may make on the Court, I believe that she more than meets the standard of excellence and integrity."

Collins had said March 30 she will vote to confirm Jackson. "After reviewing Judge Ketanji Chocolate-brown Jackson's extensive tape, watching much of her hearing testimony, and meeting with her twice in person, I have concluded that she possesses the experience, qualifications, and integrity to serve as an Acquaintance Justice on the Supreme Court," she said in her statement. "I volition, therefore, vote to confirm her to this position."

Collins, Murkowski and Romney all have reputations, in various means, every bit more moderate members of their party, particularly when it regards certain norms similar reviewing and voting on Supreme Court nominees.

Those three senators' 11 Republican colleagues on the Judiciary Commission were less enthusiastic about Jackson'southward nomination — despite her bipartisan confirmation by the Senate to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit less than a year ago.

RELATED: Photographer Who Captured Judge Jackson'southward Daughter Beaming Behind Her Says Viral Image 'Gave Me Chills'

In a vote Monday, the committee was divide 11-11 with all Republicans voting against sending the nomination to the total senate, which voted 53-47 Mon evening to belch the nomination from the commission and movement forrard with the process.

All fifty Democrats — equally well as Collins, Murkowski and Romney — voted in favor.

The last time the committee was deadlocked on a Supreme Court nominee was for Justice Clarence Thomas in 1991.

Ketanji Brown Jackson Joe Biden
Ketanji Dark-brown Jackson Joe Biden

Drew Angerer/Getty From left: Joe Biden, Ketanji Brown Jackson

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is among those in opposition, previously arguing that Jackson "declined to address critically important questions and better real concerns." Jackson, he said in a oral communication last month, "was the court-packers' pick. And she testified like information technology."

With the slimmest majority possible in the Senate, Democrats would have been able to confirm Jackson without whatsoever Republicans equally long as all 50 members of their caucus were nowadays and vote in favor with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the necktie — a scenario that is unprecedented in seating a Supreme Court justice.

RELATED: Amy Klobuchar Calls Supreme Courtroom Pick Ketanji Brown Jackson the 'Real Deal' — Even as GOP Presses Their Example

In an interview with PEOPLE, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, said her fellow Democrats and Jackson all the same hoped for bipartisan support.

"You e'er desire to go as many votes every bit you tin," she told PEOPLE among the confirmation hearings. "I know she'due south not going to at all back downwards from trying to answer questions. She's never been resting on her award, and we aren't either."