Congratulations to Samuel Alito, who was confirmed by the Senate to the position of Associate Justice by a vote of 58-42. Alito becomes the 110th Justice in the history of the United States.

  Less obviously, congratulations are in order to Justice Stephen Breyer, who is no longer the junior-most Associate Justice and will no longer have to get the door at the Justices' confererences. Eleven years is a very long time to serve as the most junior Justice, and now he can pass on those duties to Alito.

  When the Court is next in session, the Justices will sit on the bench in this order, from left to right:

SGB CT AMK JPS JGR AS DHS RBG SAA