U.S. Senate confirms first openly gay man to serve as federal court judge

The U.S. Senate on Monday evening confirmed confirmed J. Paul Oetken to the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, and the first openly gay man to serve as federal judge in U.S. history.

By a vote of 80-13, Oetken was confirmed with no opposition from Senate Democrats and a majority of the Republicans supporting his nomination as well.

Oetken, 45, will take his seat as a federal judge in Manhattan after President Barack Obama signs his commission, which could be as soon as this week, according to the office of Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York).