Neomi Rao has been confirmed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on a 53-46 vote, per the Washington Post.

The big picture: Rao is the 36th circuit court judge appointed under President Trump. She will succeed Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the nation's second-highest court, which feeds judges to the Supreme Court. Rao faced criticism during her confirmation hearing over her controversial past writings on gender equality, sexual assault and race.

Go deeper: GOP senator has "deep concerns" about Rao's judicial philosophy