Jan. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Samuel A. Alito Jr. won U.S. Senate confirmation to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in a mostly partisan vote that helps President George W. Bush move the Supreme Court to the right.

Alito's vote total surpassed 51, with the roll call still in progress, elevating him to the high court from a Philadelphia- based appeals court where he has served since 1990. Alito will become the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice when he is sworn in later today.

He plans to attend President George W. Bush's State of the Union speech to Congress along with the president's other high court appointee, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

To contact the reporter on this story: James Rowley in Washington at jarowley@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 31, 2006 11:11 EST