Senate confirms first openly gay man to federal bench

J. Paul Oetken on Monday became the first openly gay man confirmed to the federal bench. 

The Senate approved his nomination 80 to 13.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who recommended Oetken to President Obama for the nomination to the District Court for the Southern District of New York, offered a ringing endorsement from the Senate floor prior to the roll-call vote. 

"As the first openly gay man to be confirmed as a federal judge and to serve on the federal bench, he will be a symbol of how much we have achieved as a country in just the last few decades," said Schumer. " ... Paul Oetken's modest but brave act of going through the confirmation process makes this otherwise quiet moment historic."

In the minutes leading up to the vote, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), also spoke in support of Oetken’s confirmation.

"I support this nomination and I congratulate him on his professional accomplishments," said Grassley. 

Since no senator attempted to block Oetken's confirmation, the vote required a simple majority to pass.

Republicans who voted against confirmation were Sens. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Roger Wicker (Miss.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Jim Risch (Idaho), Mike Crapo (Idaho), John Boozman (Ark.), Pat Roberts (Kan.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Mike Lee (Utah), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) and Jim DeMint (S.C.).