how many senators have to approve supreme court nominee
Appointment and confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States Once the Committee reports out the nomination, the whole Senate considers it. A simple majority vote is required to confirm or to reject a nominee. Prior to 2017, a successful filibuster threat could add the requirement of a supermajority of 60 needed in favor of cloture, which would allow debate to end and force a final vote on confirmation. Rejections are relatively uncommon; the Senate has explicitly rejected twelve Supreme Court nominees in its history. The most recent rejection of a nominee by vote of the full Senate came in 1987, when the Senate refused to confirm Robert Bork.
List of nominations to the Supreme Court of the United States The lifetime tenure, power, and political independence of the judiciary occasionally make nominees quite controversial, and some nominees have failed to win confirmation from the Senate. As of 2017, there have been 161 formal nominations, 124 confirmations (including elevations to Chief Justice and instances where the nominee did not serve), and 113 Supreme Court justices.[1] 39 of the 43 presidents have appointed at least one Supreme Court Justice.[1] George Washington appointed the most Supreme Court Justices (11), followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt (9, including the elevation of one Associate Justice) and Andrew Jackson (6). The table that follows lists Presidential nominees who had been referred for the “advice and consent” of the Senate, in chronological order by date of nomination.