Gorsuch takes supreme court seat after divisive confirmation

You're referring to the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court of the United States!

Yes, on April 7, 2017, Neil Gorsuch was sworn in as the 113th Justice of the Supreme Court, filling the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016. Gorsuch's confirmation was a highly contentious and divisive process, with Democrats in the Senate boycotting the vote and Republicans using a procedural maneuver known as the "nuclear option" to change the Senate's rules and allow Gorsuch's confirmation to proceed with a simple majority vote.

Gorsuch's nomination was met with fierce opposition from Democrats, who argued that the seat should be filled by a nominee chosen by President Barack Obama, who had been in office when Scalia passed away. Republicans, on the other hand, argued that the seat should be filled by a nominee chosen by President Donald Trump, who had won the presidential election in 2016.

The confirmation process was marked by intense partisan wrangling, with Democrats accusing Republicans of trying to ram through a nominee without giving them a fair hearing. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a marathon hearing on Gorsuch's nomination, with Democrats boycotting the vote and Republicans voting to send the nomination to the full Senate.

On April 6, 2017, the Senate voted 55-45 to confirm Gorsuch, with all Democrats and one Republican, Senator John McCain, voting against him. The confirmation was met with widespread protests and criticism from Democrats, who argued that the process was unfair and undemocratic.

Despite the controversy surrounding his confirmation, Gorsuch has since become a respected and influential member of the Supreme Court, known for his conservative judicial philosophy and his ability to build consensus with his colleagues.