https://www.rawstory.com/2018/11/jeff-flake-caves-withdrawing-no-vote-controversial-judge-pence-break-tie/

Uh huh. [Update: alternate view: https://www.vox.com/mischiefs-of-faction/2018/10/8/17949756/murkowski-unusual-vote-explained]

«“if he votes against any of the 32 judges that come before the Senate floor, that makes it 50-50 and [Vice President] Mike Pence gets to be a tiebreaker.

That’s exactly what happened Thursday, when Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) was unable to vote, though he would have been a “yes” vote. Flake’s “no” vote would have prevented Kobes from being confirmed. Instead, Flake withdrew his “no” vote so that the vote would be 49 to 49 and Pence would have to cast the tie-breaking vote.

….

Kobes’ nomination was opposed by several groups, including a rating of “Not Qualified” from the nonpartisan American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary.»