Yesterday the Senate confirmed Judge Thomas by a narrow 52 to 48 vote . SEPARATION OF POWERS. There is much speculation as to how the excruciating ordeal of the hearings might affect the decisions of the associate justice concerning such issues as abortion , sexual harassment , separation of powers , free press , and the rights of accused . A conservative legal commentator who earlier supported the nominee now says the Senate should have rejected Thomas since the accusations against him were not disproved and the Supreme Court should be above suspicion . Thomas himself told the Judiciary Committee that nothing could give him back his good reputation .
Yesterday the Senate confirmed Judge Thomas by a narrow 52 to 48 vote . There is much speculation as to how the excruciating ordeal of the hearings might affect the decisions of the associate justice concerning such issues as abortion , sexual harassment , separation of powers , free press , and the rights of accused . A conservative legal commentator who earlier supported the nominee now says the Senate should have rejected Thomas since the accusations against him were not disproved and the Supreme Court should be above suspicion . Thomas himself told the Judiciary Committee that nothing could give him back his good reputation .