[JURIST] US Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) [official website] was confirmed [results] as Attorney General by a 52 to 47 vote on Wednesday, bringing to a close a contentious confirmation process. The committee hearing on his nomination included testimony on Sessions’ controversial history regarding race, but resulted ultimately in his being advanced [JURIST reports] by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sessions vowed after his confirmation to fulfill the duties of the office to the best of his abilities.

Sessions was nominated by President Donald Trump [JURIST report] last November, and his progression through the Senate Confirmation process has proven politically turbulent. This has been exacerbated with the removal of acting Attorney General Sally Yates upon her refusal to enforce [JURIST report] the recent executive order and immigration ban. The Republican senator and former US attorney had been the first senate member to support Trump [AP report] during his presidential campaign, and he later worked with Trump to construct immigration, trade and counterterrorism policies.