[JURIST] The US Senate has invoked cloture [Senate backgrounder], voting 72-25 to end debate and cut off any filibuster on the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito [official profile] to the US Supreme Court. A vote on whether to approve the nomination is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 AM ET.

5:55 PM ET - Alito's confirmation Tuesday is virtually assured, with 57 senators in the 100-member upper chamber - 53 Republicans and 4 Democrats - having publicly declared their support of the nominee. AP has more.

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