Harold Koh confirmed to State Department legal post.

After months of GOP stalling tactics and conservative fearmongering, Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh was confirmed by the Senate today to be the State Department’s top legal adviser. He passed by a vote of 62–35, with five Republicans voting to confirm — Sens. Olympia Snowe (ME), Susan Collins (ME), Richard Lugar (IN), Mel Martinez (FL), and George Voinovich (OH). Yesterday, Senate Democrats successfully avoided a filibuster by a 65–31. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Judd Gregg (R-NH), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) all voted for cloture but did not vote for Koh’s confirmation. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) skipped the cloture vote but voted against Koh’s confirmation today.