NEOMI RAO

US Senate confirms Indian origin White House official as a judge of the powerful appeals court Senators voted 53-46 to confirm Rao to the court of appeals for District of Columbia, considered a stepping stone to the Supreme Court, filling a vacancy left behind by Brett Kavanaugh, who is now a judge of the top court

She will be the second Indian origin judge on the DC court of appeals, joining Sri Srinivasan, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama

Rao, 45, had faced severe grilling by Democrats during the confirmation hearing over her writings as a college student about sexual assault. She distanced herself from language she used in the past.