Also that day, The Crimson reported that in the past Harvard security guards had criticized Marshall for hiring her former law firm to write a report that exonerated the University on a racial discrimination suit, a suit brought by several Harvard guards.

Marshall did not respond to these issues in her testimony before the council earlier this month. But Cellucci said that she and Law resolved their differences over the telephone.

The Archdiocese of Boston would not comment on any aspect of Marshall's confirmation.

Beneficial Professor Charles Fried, who retired from the court earlier this year, said he is pleased with the outcome of the confirmation process.

"From the beginning, I thought the nomination was excellent and I constantly expected her to be confirmed," he said.

Wilkins said he approves of the state's system of selecting judges, but said political considerations could unnecessarily limit people who hope to become judges.

"I think that ideologues are not helping the system by acting as if people should never take a stand on anything," he said.